Housing in Donnycarney and the local school have been flooded for the second time in less than a year. This is simply not acceptable.

I have contacted Dublin City Council and can confirm that the council are drawing up a set of proposals to address the problem of flooding. The measures under consideration include:

• Additional storage capacity at DCU, upstream, to reduce the volume of water hitting the Wad system after heavy rainfall.
• New piping which would require paying certain rights of way at the school and in the Golf Club, and would increase the capacity of the system.
• Some remedial works around the flooded areas that would improve the flow and facilitate the release of water.

While some of the small remedial work can be done immediately, the total cost of the job would be €3-4 million and will require monies from the Office of Public Works and the Department of Environment. Smaller jobs have been considered but it might only serve to displace the flooding problem to another location.

I have also been in touch with the Flooding Section at the Office of Public Works. They are willing to work with the Council to ensure that robust systems are put in place to prevent flooding in future. The Council hope to have proposals ready by the end of the month. The OPW are positive about their ability to finance the work which involves the Riverwad for which they have responsibility.

Issues that would have to be overcome to get the work through would obviously include compulsory rights of entry over the properties of those along the route. It would also have to be established whether environmental assessment requirements would have to be met.

I have also been in touch with Martin Mansergh T.D., Minister of State in the Office of Public Works. He visited the area last year when flooding happened before. He recognises that a repeat flood so soon is not acceptable. He has promised to do his best to see that the situation is addressed as soon as possible. I will keep after all the authorities on this matter.