Ms Clare McGrath:

With respect, Deputy McFadden has raised a policy issue.

In respect of policy for the OPW entity, our responsibility is flood risk. The Deputy has asked a larger question on policy; our responsibility is to do with flood risk. If there is a particular instance or case of flood risk, we would probably treat it along with the local authority if something needed to be done.

It is fair to say - I did not mention this - that environmental issues are a consideration. In our maintenance works we must have regard to environmental issues, as well when we are in the river, and we comply with that. The Deputy has raised a policy question. I am saying, in respect of the policy for which the OPW is responsible, that we are developing CFRAMs. If there are cost benefits to be had then measures will be identified.

As the Deputy has rightly said, CFRAM is not a report. It is for all 300 areas and will be an outline design. There are flood risk maps but there will be outline design schemes for the 300 areas, which is a step towards detailed design. That means they will be ahead compared with where we were previously on identifying a location.