Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This work is being done in conjunction with the OPW. I was speaking to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, about this towards the end of last year. We are currently recruiting additional staff.

Last year, we appointed the chief hydrometereologist and commenced the recruitment of specialist staff. We have progressed an implementation plan for establishing the flood forecasting centre within Met Éireann. We have also conducted a review and a trial of a range of hydrological models and integrator systems. We can discuss what they are in more detail if the members would like but I do not know what they are. In 2019, we will continue to recruit specialist staff. We will have to select hydrological models and integrator systems for use in the operational fluvial flood forecasting and then develop a communication strategy for the flood forecasting centre in order to disseminate flood alerts in a timely and efficient manner. Obviously, it falls to Met Éireann to do this. We are providing the funding but we are co-ordinating the work with the OPW given the role it plays in flood defence.