Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

In recent days we have seen the devastating effects of flooding on homes, businesses, and people's livelihoods in many parts of the country including locations across the River Shannon catchment area. The entire river basin area has been affected from Leitrim and Roscommon down to Clare and Limerick. Record water levels were recorded in Loughs Derg, Ree and Allen. Our thoughts are with all those who have suffered the effects of flooding in recent days.

In responding to the flooding, the local authorities have been following the procedures set out in the framework for major emergency management. This framework enabled the three principal response agencies - the Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and local authorities, together with the Defence Forces and other voluntary agencies to co-ordinate their response to the flooding. Reports from the areas experiencing major flooding show that the interagency response has worked in a satisfactory manner.

Future improvements to co-ordinated flood risk management in Ireland will be in accordance with the EU floods directive, which requires the assessment of flood risks and the preparation of flood risk management plans on a river basin basis. The report of Ireland's flood policy review group, approved by Government in 2004, set out a policy on the management of flood risks which is in line with the requirements of the floods directive. The report recommended that the OPW should have responsibility for flood risk management. An interdepartmental co-ordination group has been established to assist in co-ordinating the implementation of the recommendations of the flood policy review group, and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is represented on this group.

The OPW will transpose the floods directive into Irish law before the end of the year. It is envisaged that the OPW will be the competent authority for the directive. The OPW has already begun the process of procuring a flood risk assessment and management study for the River Shannon catchment area, and the study is expected to be commissioned by mid 2010. All of the main stakeholders will be consulted including the ESB and relevant local authorities.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has lead responsibility for implementation of the EU water framework directive which provides for the protection of our waters. Local authorities are in the process of finalising river basin management plans. These plans will detail current water quality, set objectives for maintaining and improving water quality, and set out the measures necessary to achieve these improvements. The plans are being prepared jointly by the local authorities in each river basin district with funding provided by the Department. Limerick County Council is the co-ordinating authority for the Shannon river basin district.

The Department has also worked closely with the OPW to develop comprehensive guidelines to enable local authority planners to contribute substantially to the management of flooding-related issues. The guidelines, published by the Minister, Deputy Gormley with the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, last Monday are aimed at ensuring a more consistent, rigorous and systematic approach to incorporate fully flood risk assessment and management into future regional plans, county and city development plans, local area plans and in determining future applications for planning permissions in line with the principles of proper planning and sustainable development.

The Department and the OPW will work closely to co-ordinate future revisions of river basin management plans and flood risk management plans. These plans will provide a comprehensive and integrated response to the issues raised by the Deputy.

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