Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

I express sympathy on my own behalf and that of the Government to everyone affected by the flooding throughout the country over several days during the last week of October 2004. This has been a traumatic experience for everyone affected.

The Government has today approved and announced a humanitarian aid package to relieve hardship arising from the flooding of people's homes as a result of this severe rainfall. OPW officials will meet the Irish Red Cross Society in the morning to progress the matter and details of the scheme will be announced as quickly as possible. The Irish Red Cross Society has much experience in handling such schemes and invariably does so in the most efficient and humane way.

The Government is committed to a strategic flood management policy. Just last month the Government approved the recommendations of the flood policy review group. This confirms the lead role of the OPW in taking a strategic approach to flood management in the future and working in co-operation with the relevant local authorities. The programme of flood relief schemes currently on hand will be implemented as resources permit in the context of an integrated, long-term strategy on flood management. This strategy calls for considerable emphasis on non-structural flood management measures, for example, flood warning systems, flood mapping, guidelines on development and formulation of catchment flood risk management plans to foster a catchment-based approach to flood management. Account will be taken of the need to prioritise expenditure in the areas of greatest need and to be mindful of the implications of climate change.

The OPW has conducted feasibility studies to assess flood risk and to develop flood alleviation schemes in several areas throughout the country prone to flooding. These studies have been undertaken either by OPW's engineering services or through external consultants and include such areas as Clonmel, County Tipperary, Mallow and Fermoy in County Cork, Waterford city, Carlow town, Mornington, County Meath, and Ennis, County Clare. Other areas, which include Enniscorthy County Wexford, Templemore, County Tipperary, Arklow, County Wicklow, and Tullow, County Carlow, are currently in the process of having feasibility studies completed. The OPW works closely with local authorities in the development and implementation of flood relief schemes.

A number of these proposed schemes will be placed on formal public exhibition by the OPW early in 2005. Phase one of the Mallow flood relief scheme is currently being exhibited by the local authority under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, and subject to it successfully completing the planning stage, will commence construction work in March 2005. These works will be funded by the OPW and executed by the local authority. The timetable for completing all phases of all these schemes will depend on the availability of funds and prioritisation of the large number of schemes that are required in the various locations.

Deputy Sherlock raised the issue of exhibiting the Fermoy flood relief scheme by a Part 8 process, but this will not be possible as most of the lands affected are in private ownership, which means that the best method of exhibition and construction will be under the Arterial Drainage Acts. In any case, before the Fermoy scheme is built it is essential to have an effective flood warning system in operation and the OPW has already commenced this development as part of phase one of the scheme. The formal public exhibition of this scheme, as required under the Arterial Drainage Acts, will take place early in 2005.

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