Flooding
Mr. Gormley: Yesterday, I made a request to adjourn the House under Standing Order 31 to discuss the state of readiness of the emergency services to deal with the flooding problems that were about to occur. Now that they have—–
An Ceann Comhairle: That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Mr. Gormley: If you let me finish, Ceann Comhairle, I wish to ask about legislation pertinent to this matter. I mentioned it yesterday. In this city—–
An Ceann Comhairle: I do not intend to hear the Deputy on this matter. There is a submission for a Private Notice Question on this matter and if I am to consider it for that, I will not have a debate on it now.
Mr. Gormley: The legislation to which I refer is the building control Bill to stop builders flooding this city.
Mr. Cowen: The Bill concerned seeks to amend and strengthen the powers of local building control authorities under the Building Control Act 1990 and to provide for the registration of the titles of architect, building surveyor and quantity surveyor. The heads of the Bill were approved by Government and it is expected it will be published in the middle of next year.
Mr. Gormley: I wish to ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the measures taken to avoid flooding following the latest incidents in Dublin and along the south and east coast yesterday; the steps, if any, to compensate those who have been adversely affected.
Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Parlon): I propose to take the questions together. First, I would like to express my sympathy and that of the Government to everyone affected by the flooding incidents around the country which occurred yesterday and today. It has been a very traumatic time for all those directly affected.
The House will be aware from weather predictions in the past day or so that the flooding we have experienced has been due to a combination of natural events: heavy rainfall in recent weeks leading to wet ground conditions, intense rainfall in the past 24 to 36 hours, low atmospheric pressure combined with spring tides and storm force winds. The extent of the flooding around the country is not yet totally clear. I have, to date, received reports of several severely affected areas, including Cork city, Waterford, Arklow, Mallow and Wexford. There are many other areas where localised flooding occurred on a smaller scale but, of course, no less traumatic for people directly affected.
I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the hard work undertaken in the past 24 hours by local authority staff, the Garda Síochána, Civil Defence groups, fire brigades and all other staff and volunteers involved. In an emergency situation such as this, the initial responsibility for assisting the public and protecting infrastructure falls to these groups, operating at local level. They have done a very good job.
As the immediate pressure of emergency response eases in the next day or so, my staff in the OPW will be in contact with local authorities and the Department of the Environment, Heritage, and Local Government in order to get a fully detailed picture of the flood events, locations, and numbers of people and properties affected. When this information is to hand, a judgment can be made on the question of the provision of humanitarian aid. The criteria used in assessing eligibility for aid are generally homelessness, damage to homes, serious injury, or loss of income. The House should be aware that the policy in implementing humanitarian aid schemes is to provide humanitarian assistance to relieve hardship arising out of damage to people’s homes. It has not been the practice to include assistance to businesses in these schemes.
As part of the greater Dublin strategic drainage study, being undertaken by Dublin City Council, the OPW agreed in April 2002 to fund a study on flooding of the River Tolka. Following the severe flooding from the River Tolka in Dublin and Meath in November 2002, the OPW was asked by the three local authorities concerned, Dublin City, Meath and Fingal County Councils, to assist in the implementation of a series of flood alleviation measures. Following discussions with each local authority, the OPW agreed to fund and undertake a range of works which were first recommended in interim reports completed by the councils’ consultants and which were also contained in the final report of the River Tolka flooding study. Dublin City Council, under the powers of which the works were to be carried out, exhibited a schedule of works for the city area in 2003 and again in 2004, as required under part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001.
The works undertaken by the OPW cover an area from Glasnevin Bridge to Luke Kelly Bridge in Ballybough. The works are almost complete and include the construction of walls and embankments, the replacement of Woodville Road Footbridge, the lowering of Distillery Weir, the widening of the southern bank opposite Tolka Park, and general maintenance of the channel along this stretch. The OPW has expended approximately €1.7 million so far on works in the city area and approximately €3.5 million on the whole Tolka catchment. There are further works, which include the replacement of Distillery Road Bridge and the widening of some parts of the river around the bridge, which are the subject of negotiations between the council and property owners and developers as part of a proposed development in that area. The report contains no recommendations for downstream of Luke Kelly Bridge.
With the support of the OPW, Dublin City Council, on behalf of the combined Dublin local authorities, has also commissioned a study of flood risk in coastal areas, entitled the Dublin coastal zone risk assessment. This study is expected to be finalised in the next month and will provide a long term strategy for addressing the flood risk in the study area. Deputy Gregory has also raised the issue of anti-flood measures at Spencer Dock and I understand Dublin City Council will be commencing works there in the next few weeks. The work which has been carried out in the greater Dublin area and in County Meath in the last two years by the OPW, in partnership with the local authorities, has been successful. The evidence is there for all to see in the last 24 hours. I hope I am not tempting fate with this assertion.
With regard to flood relief works in other locations, I confirm that a scheme in Kilkenny city is nearing completion and a scheme to protect Carrick-on-Suir was completed last year. Schemes are at various stages of planning and design in other cities and towns, including Clonmel, Carlow, Waterford, Enniscorthy, Mallow, Fermoy, and Ennis. The House will note that neither Cork city nor Wexford are included in the current OPW flood relief programme. My officials will be in touch with the relevant local authorities in the next few days to assess the position in both these locations. As tidal influences are significant in both cases, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources will also be consulted.
The Government is committed to a strategic flood management policy. In that context, I remind the House that the Government last month approved the recommendations of the flood policy review group. This confirms the lead role of the OPW in taking a strategic approach to flood management in the future and working in co-operation with the relevant local authorities. The programme of flood relief schemes currently on hand will be implemented as resources permit in the context of an integrated, long term strategy on flood management. This strategy calls for considerable emphasis on non-structural flood management measures, for example, flood warning systems, flood mapping, guidelines on development and formulation of catchment flood risk management plans to foster a catchment-based approach to flood management. Account will be taken of the need to prioritise expenditure in the areas of greatest need and to be mindful of the implications of climate change. I am glad to be able to report to the House that the OPW has already commenced work on the development of flood warning systems and flood mapping as the first steps in this new approach.
In conclusion, I am satisfied that a coherent, sustainable, long term strategy on flood management is in place, consistent with the recommendations of the flood policy review group and combining structural and non-structural measures.
Mr. Gormley: My colleague, Deputy Boyle, regrets he cannot be here today as he is in Cork helping his beleaguered constituents.
Why did the Minister of State only mention the Tolka river? No mention was made of the Dodder river. My constituents in Ringsend, Sandymount and Irishtown are, perhaps, the most vulnerable to flooding. Why was it necessary for me to go at 12 o’clock last night to see the situation on the ground? Deputy Gregory is right, if there had been more rain, there would have been serious flooding along the coast. We had sand bags in place in Sandymount.
Why was it that when the protective wall was built in Irishtown, along the front of Stella Gardens, that it only went as far as Londonbridge Road? This makes no sense because the water will not stop there but will come around and flow down into Stella Gardens. We cannot just have symbols; some thought must be put into the situation. Protective measures for the Dublin coastal zone were mentioned. How much will these cost and when will they be provided? The Minister of State must accept that the frequency of floods will increase significantly as a result of climate change, higher precipitation and the associated problems of climate change such as rising sea levels. These combined problems will have serious consequences for my constituents. What plans has the Minister of State in place and when will they be implemented?
Mr. Parlon: I hope Deputy Boyle is safe in Cork. I am sure he will appreciate the fact that as soon as Deputy Gormley got to his feet he lost no time in moving on to the question of the Dodder and made no further reference to Cork.
Mr. Gormley: We must get our priorities right.
Mr. Parlon: I answered solely on the question of the Tolka because the questions were asked directly about the Tolka. I admire Deputy Gormley’s opportunism in raising the matter of the Dodder.
Mr. F. McGrath: Northsiders come first.
Mr. Gormley: It was not opportunism.
Mr. Parlon: The OPW made a substantial contribution of more than €800,000 to Dublin City Council for the construction of the wall in Ringsend. After that the project was the responsibility of the council and it has been very effective.
Mr. Gormley: They stopped it.
Mr. Parlon: Dublin City Council stopped the project. Perhaps the money ran out. The overall scheme has been successful. I spent some time there and it looks very well.
I was in touch with some Arklow people this morning and I met a delegation from Arklow in the last 15 months. The OPW funded a consultative report with Arklow Town Council. The report has been completed and must now make its way towards implementation. It must fit into the prioritisation. We have given an undertaking to prioritise our spending. Currently, the OPW spends approximately €20 million per year on flood relief measures. The report says the Government needs to spend approximately €400 million in the next 15 years.
Mr. Gormley: What about Sandymount?
Ms McManus: Will the Minister of State meet the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources?
Mr. Parlon: By coincidence, I will be meeting the Minister tomorrow at 2 o’clock in Wicklow town. I have no doubt he will raise this matter.
Mr. Allen: The Minister of State should make a statement on the matter.
Mr. Gormley: What will the Minister do about Sandymount?