David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Moran, I am pleased to present to the House the annual adaptation transition statement on the policy measures adopted by the Office of Public Works during the past year to help to adapt to the effects of climate change on flood risk management. In the past year the Office of Public Works has launched the flood risk management plans that detail the risk and feasible measures to address flooding from rivers and sea which are the primary sources of flood risk. It not only looked at flood risk and its impact today, it also studied the flood risk and impact in two potential climate change scenarios in the future.

The catchment flood risk assessment and management programme, CFRAM, that delivered the plans was the largest national study ever undertaken of the risk posed by significant flood events, or one in 100 year floods, and followed best practice. In 2012, 300 communities were selected for the study as they were the most likely to be impacted on by future flooding, including 90 coastal communities. These communities represent 80% of the national potential risk and are home to almost two thirds of the population. While the CFRAM programme assessed flood risk in all large urban areas, approximately one quarter of the communities had a population of less than 500 people, while half of thelm had a population of less than 2,000. On 31 May, with the Taoiseach, the Minister of State launched the flood maps for these communities. The plans set out how we can manage flood risk both for these communities and nationally.

The Minister of State also announced a €1 billion investment in a further 118 flood relief schemes in the coming decade. It will mean that, together with the 42 schemes completed and 33 under way, the Government can protect 95% of properties assessed as being at risk from a one in 100-year flood. A new website, www.floodinfo.ie, on which people can view the maps and plans by location, was also launched.

At the start of this ten-year programme of investment the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, announced that the Office of Public Works, OPW, working with local authorities, would be starting work on detailed design for 50 of the 118 new flood relief schemes. He is pleased to report that there has been proactive engagement since between the OPW and the local authorities on the arrangements and structures to be put in place to advance implementation of the first tranche of projects. Project inception meetings have focused on the establishment of project steering groups, governance structures and the resource and procurement requirements. The OPW has already put in place frameworks of engineering design consultants and environmental consultants which are helping to expedite the delivery process.

In the past year the OPW has either work completed or work under way on flood relief schemes to protect 80% of the properties assessed to be at risk of significant flooding. All schemes are designed and built in line with international best practice. It includes ensuring they can be adapted in the future for potential climate change. Measures have been put in place for the at-risk properties where investment in a flood relief scheme is not feasible. The minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme put in place during the past year remains a valuable measure to address localised flood risk. The OPW has committed to the investment of €5.6 million in 65 localised schemes by local authorities. The work of the interdepartmental flood policy co-ordination group, chaired by the Minister of State, is also focused on climate change adaptation measures for flood risk management.

Significant progress has been achieved this year by Met Éireann and the OPW in establishing the flood forecasting service, including the appointment of a chief hydrometerologist who is leading the delivery of this service. The publication by the OPW in the past year of flood risk maps, developed by the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme, which include maps reflecting the impact of future climate change, is a valuable resource to inform local authorities in their preparation of local and sectoral adaptation plans in 2019 and planning decisions, as well as in planning emergency responses.

The work done by the OPW in the past year in adopting measures to adapt for climate change has been significant. In particular, the launch of the flood risk management plans demonstrates the proactive approach taken in addressing the possible impact of climate change, both in planning to manage flood risk and the delivery of flood relief schemes. The Minister of State is confident that the focus on climate change in flood risk management will allow the investment made today to be easily adaptable to deal with the impact of climate change in the future.

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