Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The reason was the flood event of 2015-2016 was exceptionally severe, more extreme even than the Shannon flood of 2009, which, at the time, was the most extreme on record by a significant margin. The CFRAM flood study maps for Castleconell were developed prior to the flooding of last winter, making use of the information available at that time including information on the 2009 event. The maps were displayed locally during public consultation in 2014 and were subsequently formally consulted, under SI 122 of 2010 and SI 495 of 2015, in November-December 2015. The feedback received generally at that time indicated that the maps, which show properties at potential risk in Castleconnell during very extreme events, represented past flooding events reasonably well. However, 2015 changed the view on that. The OPW recognises that there have now been two particularly extreme floods on the Shannon in recent years, which may indicate a possible underestimation of the likelihood of such severe events showing on the existing CRFAM flood maps for Castleconell. While some flood event data collection was undertaken after the winter of 2015, it takes some time to collate all the detailed information necessary to review the technical analysis and the maps have not yet been fully reviewed on the basis of the flood event.

The OPW fully acknowledges and agrees that future analysis must be undertaken on foot of the flooding of last winter in order to better understand the specifics of the flood event and to review the hydraulic modelling and flood mapping of this area. Information received at the public consultation held in September this year in respect of the extensive flooding that occurred will help to inform this review.

I can give Senator Kieran O'Donnell my note. Basically, I am saying that is the reason for it. I commend the Senator on the approach he took on the issue in that he highlighted it to us in a constructive way. Hopefully, we will get the desired result at the end of the process.