Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I have elaborated a good deal already. As I stated in reply to Question No. 5 on today's Order Paper, measures to alleviate flooding are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. I must repeat the answer. The OPW is the lead agency for flood risk management and it funds a capital and maintenance programme for major and minor flood works. The Deputy should ensure that his local authority has made representations and a submission to the Office of Public Works, which has the money to deal with the issues to which he has referred. I realise it will never be enough nationally but €45 million in the current climate is a substantial amount of money to be allocated for 2012.

My Department in partnership with the OPW published guidelines for the planning authorities to ensure some of the mistakes to which Deputy Boyd Barrett correctly adverted will not take place again in respect of flood risk management. These guidelines are being implemented as part of the planning applications process by An Bord Pleanála and in development plans.

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