Investment in flooding schemes will be made ‘as resources permit’
Investment in flooding schemes across the country will only be implemented “as resources permit”, according to the OPW Minister Tom Parlon.
Construction work on the Mallow flood relief scheme could begin in March 2005 and the first phase of the Fermoy scheme is expected to go on public display around the same time.
Yesterday Bertie Ahern said a number of flood prevention projects had either commenced or are being examined, while some are being held up for various reasons.
“Investment has been made in drainage, sewerage and other schemes to ensure we can deal with the flood issue in a more efficient way,” he said.
Responding to questions from Green Party leader Trevor Sargent, Mr Ahern did not give any guarantee, though, of increased funding for flooding projects.
According to Mr Sargent, a capital investment programme for flood prevention needed to be introduced. “We are not talking about humanitarian aid. We are talking about Cork City seeking funds for the last 20 years for quay walls and Dublin City Council seeking 150 million for coastal defences. Will this be announced in the Budget or before then?”
Mr Parlon said a number of proposed flood prevention schemes will be placed on formal public exhibition by the OPW early next year. Responding to complaints from Labour’s Joe Sherlock and Fine Gael’s Simon Coveney on the delays in the flood relief programme in Co Cork, Mr Parlon said Phase One of the Mallow flood relief scheme is currently on exhibition and, subject to it successfully completing the planning stage, will commence construction work in March 2005.
“These works will be funded by the OPW and executed by the local authority. The timetable for completing all phases of all these schemes will depend on the availability of funds and prioritisation of the large number of schemes that are required in the various locations,” he said.
In the case of the Fermoy flood relief scheme, the minister said most of the lands affected are in private ownership. “Before the Fermoy scheme is built it is essential to have an effective flood warning system in operation and the OPW has commenced this development as part of Phase One of the scheme. The formal public exhibition of this scheme, as required under the Arterial Drainage Acts, will take place early in 2005.”
Accusing Government of having no strategy on flood plains, Mr Sargent said the advice of planners had been ignored and areas prone to flooding built upon.
However, Mr Ahern rejected the argument and said water plains were covered in the last major Planning Act. “Regarding building on plains, since the population has risen by one million since 1973, that extra million people must live somewhere.”
