John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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683. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding provisions in place for persons that need to carry out riverbank management and preservation on their lands (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20708/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) carries out a programme of Arterial Drainage Maintenance to a total of 11,500 km of river channel and approximately 730 km of embankments nationally. These maintenance works relate to arterial drainage schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. The OPW has a statutory duty to maintain the completed schemes in proper repair and effective condition. The annual maintenance programme typically involves some clearance of vegetation and removal of silt build-up on an average five-yearly cycle. Each year, work is carried out to approximately 2,000 km of channel and about 200 structures around the country. Maintenance of all drainage schemes carried out under earlier Acts, known as Drainage Districts, is the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority.

Outside of the above schemes, maintenance of riverbanks would be the responsibility of the riparian landowner. Work to develop guidance to clarify the rights and responsibilities of landowners in relation to the maintenance of water course on or near their lands is at an advanced stage and will be subject to legal advice before being finalised.