Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Responsibility for the overall management and co-ordination of the front-line response to flooding events rests with the local authorities, which work with other first responders such as the Garda and Civil Defence. I wish to acknowledge the staff of all those organisations who were on the ground dealing with the aftermath of the recent flooding in Donegal. I saw for myself the devastation that the communities experienced and commend them on their resilience and spirit. My sincere sympathy goes out to all those affected by the flooding, many of whom I met personally while in Donegal.

Regarding the wider issue of flood risk management, the Government has approved the interim report of the interdepartmental flood policy co-ordination group, which outlined the range of measures that are addressing Ireland's flood risk for this winter. The Government has invested €285 million in major flood defence schemes since 1995, which is providing protection to approximately 8,000 properties, with an estimated benefit to the country of damage avoided of more than €1 billion.

A further investment of €33 million in minor works since 2009 is protecting 6,000 properties across the country. Since the flooding of 2015, the Government has delivered a number of additional measures that are helping to manage flood risk for this winter. Significant investment in major and minor flood relief works is continuing, with expenditure of €69 million since the beginning of 2016 and with ten major schemes currently under construction and seven more expected to start in the next 12 months. A further 25 major schemes are at design and planning stage.

As the Deputy is aware, the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group is trialling the lowering of levels in Lough Allen to complement existing water level protocols in place for Lough Ree. The OPW and Mayo County Council are progressing an individual property protection pilot project in Crossmolina. This initiative will provide protection for up to 76 properties and, together with another pilot scheme in Kilkenny, will inform any future assistance by Government to homeowners for individual home flood mitigation.

The OPW’s proactive flood risk planning through the CFRAM programme in recent years is nearing completion. By the end of this year I would hope to publish the final flood risk management plans developed under the CFRAM process and to announce the proposed structural measures contained within those plans that will, over the coming years, be taken to detailed design stage in order to protect at-risk communities and properties.

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