Dispute over river status delays anti-flooding works

A LOCAL city councillor has claimed that a dispute over the status of a waterway on the Southside is stalling progress on works that could alleviate flooding.

The 16-kilometre long Swan River runs through Rathmines and Ranelagh, Donnybrook, Ballsbridge and along Shelbourne Road before it joins the Dodder at Lansdowne.

The Swan is a mostly subterranean river that acts as a culvert or drain for storm waters. It also forms part of the Pembroke/Rathmines drainage scheme.

Last October, during exceptionally heavy rainfall over a period of 36 hours, the homes of many residents along its route were flooded, especially around the Grosvenor, Leinster Square and Grosvenor Park areas of Rathmines.

Cllr Mary Freehill (Lab) noted that Dublin City Council had applied for funding to increase the capacity of the water flow.

However, she claimed the local authority had been unable to draw down the funding because they could not agree with the Department of the Environment whether the Swan was a culvert or a river.

She said this failure to categorise the waterway was holding up works planned to alleviate flooding that it has caused.

“Because the density of rain fall has increased by 400 per cent since 1980 this drain is inadequate for purpose,

? she said.

“If it’s a drain, which it is, it’s the responsibility of OPW. If it’s a river, which it has not been since 1870, it’s the responsibility of the Department of the Environment.

“People are suffering since the very heavy rain last October that affected many areas of the city. In Rathmines, many family homes and flats were flooded and every time there has been heavy rain since they fear more flooding. Some have problems getting home insurance.

“It’s totally unacceptable that two Government departments can be allowed to play budget politics with the people of Rathmines and Harold’s Cross,

? she added.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment said the Swan River had been the subject of discussions between Dublin City Council and the OPW.

“The river has been culverted by the local authority as part of its urban drainage responsibilities for the area,

? the spokesperson said.

“In effect this has been incorporating the river into the urban drainage system which was designed, constructed and is maintained by the local authority.

?

A spokesperson for the OPW said:

“The Swan River is in fact a fully culverted drain and falls within the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government/Local Authority responsibility as part of the urban drainage system.

?

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said the Swan River has, over the years, been piped or culverted over a distance of 16 kilometres.

“Our Drainage Division is currently carrying out a detailed survey of these culverts,

? the council spokesperson said.

“In addition to that survey we are currently progressing the Rathmines and Pembroke Drainage Scheme, which is on the Water Services Investment Programme.

?