Ms Clare McGrath:

In 2011 the preliminary flood risk maps, which are predictive in nature, were completed following public consultation. Then guidance was issued by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in consultation with the OPW, on planning locally in respect of areas covered by these maps. As the Deputy has rightly said, the OPW does not create risk but identifies where areas are at risk. Local authorities should take account of that information when they make decisions.

Recently the Minister referenced the fact that where decisions are made to build in areas at risk an issue for the taxpayer will come later. A defence scheme must be installed to mitigate the risk at a later date. There is an issue around housing. We are saying that these are the maps, this is the identification of risk and guidance is provided for local authorities. There is guidance for their local area planning and development and there are guidelines on how they might treat such information. We expect that they are dealing with such information. We do not deal with individual planning applications in that sense.