15 April 2003: A refusal of the Government to provide additional funding for flood relief works in North Kildare means that residents of Maynooth, Straffan, Ardclough and Leixlip could well face more damage and disruption tot heir lives in the autumn.
Minister of State for Finance Tom Parlon has told Deputy Emmet Stagg that 'nofurther funding is available to me in the current year for flood relief works in County Kildare'.
"The cost of the schemes was in the region of 1.5 million euros and would have resolved the yearly flooding which afflicts residents of both villages," Deputy Stagg commented this week. "The Minister's negative response dashes any hope of a flood free autumn, something which may now be put on the long finger as this Government continues to cut public expenditure programmes."
In relation to the flooding at Mill Lane, Leixlip, Deputy Stagg stated that he would continue to press Kildare County Council to put in place minor works to prevent flooding whilst awaiting the outcome of the consultants' report into the Rye and Liffey.
In a Dail reponse, the minister said that funding of 1,130,000 euros was provided in 2002 for workson the Lyreen/Meadowbrook and the Morrell Rivers in Kildare.
"These works are being carried out by the Office of Public Works on behalf of Kildare County Council and £941,000 of this funding has been spent to date," he noted. "The balance will be expended on works on the Morrell River this year which could not be completed in 2002 because of seasonal factors. No further funding is available to me in the current year for flood relief works in County Kildare.
Kildare County Council is in the process of appointing engineers to prepare a report on flooding in the Rye Water and Liffey Rivers which impact on Mill Lane, Leixlip.
