I ask Mr Joseph Gilhooly Director of Services, Economic Development Planning & Infrastructural Services, has there been any update from the OPW to our call for a funding package over the next number of years to clean and dredge all those rivers which feed into the main rivers and lakes within the Carrick on Shannon Municipal District.
Minutes:
To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Sean McGowan;
"I ask Mr Joseph Gilhooly Director of Services, Economic Development Planning & Infrastructural Services, has there been any update from the OPW to our call for a funding package over the next number of years to clean and dredge all those rivers which feed into the main rivers and lakes within the Carrick on Shannon Municipal District."
Report by Roads - General
"Further to our request for a funding package a reply from the OPW was previously circulated to Carrick MD members in the agenda pack for the September 2021 meeting, and a further reply to another request was circulated to members in the agenda pack for the October 2021 meeting.
In summary the response from the OPW stated that they are responsible for Arterial Drainage maintenance as specified in the Arterial Acts of 1945 and 1995, but there are no Arterial Drainage schemes in the Carrick on Shannon MD. They also outline that the maintenance of Drainage schemes under earlier Acts, (which are known as Drainage Districts), are the responsibility of the Local Authority, and there are a number of these in the Carrick MD. However, there are also a significant number of drainage channels that have no state agency with a maintenance responsibility, and thus the maintenance responsibility remains with the landowner.
They further outline that their Minor Flood Mitigation Scheme, which can provide up to 90% funding, is available for areas not covered by the Arterial Drainage Maintenance Program, to address localised flooding protection problems, where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short timeframe. The eligibility criteria for this scheme includes a cost benefit ratio."
Councillor Sean McGowan said the €10,000 funding in the budget is insufficient to carry out the scope of the works required. Councillor McGowan said a major funding package of between €300,000 and €400,000 over a 3-year period is needed to clean river drainage systems and thereby help our farming community.
Councillor Thomas Mulligan supported the motion and he referred to his motion that was agreed by members at the previous Carrick MD meeting calling on Minister O’Donovan to make a once off provision for the cleaning and maintenance of the Rinn and Blackriver and the Eslin Headford rivers. Cllr Mulligan said he had been in contact with Minister O’Donovan’s office, and he is hopeful funding will become available in the form of a once-off allocation.
Councillor Paddy Farrell and Councillor Des Guckian supported the motion.
Mr Darragh O’Boyle said the €10,000 amount in the Budget, will be spent this year on the Lough Rynn area.
Councillor Sean McGowan sought clarification on who can avail of the Minor Flood Mitigation Scheme.
Mr Joseph Gilhooly said the Minor Flood Mitigation Scheme is available to resolve specific flooding issue that needs to be addressed. The scheme was accessed by the Local Authority to deal with the flooding incident at Ballinaglera in 2021.
Councillor Des Guckian said this issue needs to be tackled now and a grant of €10,000 or €50,000 is not sufficient.
Councillor McGowan said funding of €300,000 to €400,000 would do a lot of work required.