Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The July 2012 report of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on River Shannon flooding included eight proposals to tackle the issue. These proposals covered a number of issues across a range of Departments and State agencies. The Office of Public Works, OPW, responded to the committee by way of a letter in September 2012, welcoming its report and outlining its approach to addressing the specific matters within its area of responsibility. The main issue addressed in the reply was related to the OPW’s proactive approach to flood risk management through its catchment flood risk assessment and management programme, CFRAM, and how it was addressing flood risk on the River Shannon in the context of the CFRAM.

The OPW is the lead agency in flood risk management. Its CFRAM programme is in line with Government policy and will give us a clear and comprehensive picture of the flood risk in areas at significant risk of flooding, as well as setting out how the risk can be managed. I am confident that the River Shannon CFRAM programme will prioritise effective and sustainable measures to manage the flood risk on the river. I am advised that good progress continues to be made in implementing the programme. A total of 66 locations potentially at risk of significant flooding along the River Shannon have been identified for further assessment under the programme. To ensure the draft predictive flood maps are fully informed and accurate, the OPW is rolling out an extensive public consultation process on the maps at each of the 66 locations. Further details of the public consultation process and the River Shannon CFRAM programme are available on the website www.cfram.ie. Following the finalisation of the flood mapping and the assessment of appropriate flood risk management options, the final output from this important project will be integrated plans containing specific and prioritised measures to address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risks along the River Shannon. At that stage, I will be expected to find the resources needed to address this important issue.

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