Mr. Tony Smyth:

The maps produced a number of years ago were called preliminary flood risk assessment maps and they were required under an EU directive. They were to be based on available data or readily derivable data and, therefore, they were very rough and ready. Their purpose was so that we would focus our attention in the more detailed studies that followed on the areas most at risk. It was a screening exercise. We were at pains to point out that they were not site specific or site valid and they should not have been used for those purposes either by councils for planning decisions or by the insurance industry for insurance decisions. However, they gave a guide as to where there were issues that needed further study.

We have gone on to do a significant volume of surveying. We have surveyed in detail almost 6,700 km of channel throughout the country. We have covered about 13% of the land area of the State in the detailed surveys of those 300 areas that came out of the preliminary study. We will produce, on the basis of the engineering hydrology and the flood hydraulics through those areas, detailed flood maps that will be made available. The CFRAM study will complete the maps some time around now. Approximately 40,000 maps will be produced as part of that study for those 300 areas using various flood extents such as 2%, 5%, 10% and so on, flood depths and flood velocities. There is a great deal of information in that and these will be produced with the best available technology. They will, therefore, be much more specific and accurate than the preliminary maps, which served their purpose as a screening exercise for us.