COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 14, 2009

QUESTION NO. 25

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager if he will make a report on works undertaken by the Council on an ongoing basis to clear out the surface water drainage systems in the county, such as the clearing work done in and around Lucan village in August 2008?

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council advises riparian* (*meaning situated along or near the bank of a river or stream) landowners / occupiers of the risk of flooding associated with watercourses in the County.

The Drainage Maintenance & Operations Section of South Dublin County Council operates a stream / river cleaning programme on a yearly basis. Debris, overgrowth and blockages are removed from sensitive public sections of the various rivers and streams. In addition, fly tipping, illegal dumping and fallen trees are removed from public watercourses on an ongoing basis. Similarly public rivers / stream screens are continually maintained.

 

Emergency Situations

Notwithstanding the ongoing maintenance work outlined above, South Dublin does experience significant flood events. The County has significant watercourses and in the context of abnormal weather events, flooding could be experienced in the vicinity of any one of those watercourses.

Private Riparian Lands

The Drainage Maintenance and Operations Section is actively assessing methods of ensuring riparian owners take responsibility for sections of watercourses in their private ownership. South Dublin County Council is in a position to advise such landowners of their responsibilities. Works that may be required, on an ongoing basis, or in an emergency scenario where the risk of flooding is deemed to be high, includes, but is not limited to, dredging of river bed, widening of watercourse, removal of overgrowth, erection of banks and laying of pipes and maintaining culverts and overpasses.

 

Advice to Riparian Landowners / Occupier.

Owners and occupiers of riparian lands (lands adjacent to a river or stream) are advised that they should be prepared for any flood eventuality. The Office of Public Works (OPW) have prepared a document called “flooding, plan, prepare protect” which can be viewed on www.flooding.ie. This document outlines how to assess a flood risk and prepare for a flood. It also deals with insurance, livestock and pets, restoration of gardens and how to create a flood plan. Riparian landowners / occupiers are advised to consult this guidance.

South Dublin County Council also advises that ongoing maintenance of a private watercourse is essential in limiting the risk of flooding to property. Ongoing removal of excess growth, bulky items and rubbish are very important. In addition is it important that garden furniture is not placed in close proximity to a watercourse. The greatest risk of flooding is caused by debris being picked up from the banks of rivers and streams causing culvert or bridge blockages further downstream.

Legal Position

South Dublin County Council can and will, when and where it is deemed necessary, use its powers under legislation where it identifies that a private stretch of river presents an unacceptable risk of flooding. Under the Local Authority (Works) Act 1949 where a Local Authority is of the opinion that ---

(a)   any land in their functional area…….

(b)   any permanent construction in their functional area …..

has sustained or is likely to sustain damage from flooding, landslide subsidence or other similar occurrence and that it is in the public interest to afford relief or protection from the damage, the local authority may execute such works as they consider reasonable for the purposes of affording such relief or protection

In addition, under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964 Local Authorities have specific powers in relation to the carrying out of works to prevent a place from becoming or potentially presenting as a dangerous place / structure. There are however specific requirements in relation to allocation of costs, recouping of costs, offences and notice to landowners regarding carrying out of works. In such cases the Council will endeavour to recover all costs associated with entering onto private lands.

Ongoing maintenance is essential. However, pollution must not be caused in the carrying out of river maintenance. The requirements of the OPW and the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (ERFB) must also be adhered to.

The Council also operates a 24hr on-call service to cater for flood emergencies. Two types of flooding can occur, related to (a) rivers, streams and drainage and (b) roads runoff. The issue with regard to rivers and stream is described above, but it should be noted that the roads section to also carry out emergency work with regard to flooded road networks and the cleansing section provides a gulley cleaning service.

The drainage maintenance section has carried out significant surface water drainage system maintenance work and recent works including clearing of the piped Ballycullen Stream through Castlefield and Glenvara, and provision of flood alleviation works on the Poddle at Tymon and at Cappagh, flood alleviation works at Whitehall Road and replacement of the undersized culvert at Whitechurch School.