Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Finance if a work programme for flood alleviation work is in place; the aggregate value of works that make up this programme; and the allocation that will be made towards works in 2010. [11563/10]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works is the lead agency for flood risk management in Ireland. In carrying out its role, the OPW undertakes a number of work programmes where its responsibilities are delivered directly through its own resources and in some instances in conjunction with other agencies such as local authorities. The key elements of these programmes are: major capital flood defence schemes; minor coastal and non-coastal schemes; strategic flood risk management studies; and arterial drainage maintenance.

In the last five years the OPW has expended approximately €243 million in flood risk management activities in the State. This has enabled the OPW to progress major flood relief schemes in towns such as Clonmel, County Tipperary, Mallow, County Cork, Ennis, County Clare, Fermoy, County Cork and Waterford city. Major areas of Dublin city have also been given standard flood protection through schemes carried out on the rivers Tolka and Dodder in this period. A number of major schemes in other areas have also been advanced through the feasibility process which include such towns as Bray, County Wicklow, Templemore, County Tipperary, Enniscorthy, County Wexford and Arklow, County Wicklow.

In 2009, I initiated a minor flood and coastal protection works programme through which the OPW is providing funding for minor localised flood relief works or studies to be undertaken by local authorities. This programme has continued in 2010 with local authorities being asked to submit applications for cost beneficial projects up to a maximum of €500 million each.

In recent years the OPW has been developing and implementing a strategic flood risk management programme. In this regard the OPW is rolling out a series of flood risk management plans which will allow an integrated approach in the identification and management of significant flood risk. These studies will underpin the development of the OPW's investment and expenditure programme in the medium term.

The OPW also undertakes ongoing maintenance of completed arterial drainage schemes and urban flood relief schemes. Approximately 11,300 km of channels and 675 km of flood defence embankments are maintained under this programme. The Government has allocated approximately €68.3 million towards flood risk management in 2010, including €50 million for capital flood risk activities and approximately €18.3 million for ongoing drainage maintenance and hydrometric activities.

Under the capital allocation in 2010, the OPW will complete the first phases of major flood relief schemes in Mallow, Ennis, Waterford, Clonmel and Fermoy as well as commencing the second phases in each of these areas. Construction works will continue in Mornington, County Meath and on the River Dodder in Dublin. The OPW has also committed to undertaking a full feasibility study of the flooding problem in Bandon, County Cork, and will also progress works identified in the River Lee CFRAM plan. The allocation will also allow work to continue in rolling out the nationwide catchment flood risk plans. An initial allocation of €6 million has also been made for the minor works scheme which will be reviewed when all applications for assistance have been received.

In recognition of the flooding situation countrywide, the OPW has profiled expenditure of approximately €300 million until 2014 with expenditure in excess of €200 million being profiled on capital works alone in this period. I am confident this expenditure under the current work programmes being undertaken by the Office of Public Works will reduce the national level of flood risk to people, businesses, infrastructure and the environment.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I was encouraged by the Minister of State's last comment that he is confident his plans will deal with flooding risk.

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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Reduce.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Incidents described as 200 year events have happened on more than one occasion in the past two years. Is the planning model for flood relief being followed by the OPW up to standard given the changes that are clearly taking place in climactic conditions? Has he reviewed the priority needed to given to flood relief in light of the events of the last few years?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A number of Deputies are offering and I would like to facilitate all of them.

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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A flood in Newcastle West was a 700 year event but work is being done at that location. Obviously, flood defence works cannot provide absolute guarantees against all eventualities. I refer to a situation in the UK in a place called Cockermouth which had one in 100 defences in place. As I understand it, 12 inches of rain fell in eight hours and those defences were overrun. We should bear that in mind. In the Irish context where works have been completed the results have been very satisfactory. I refer to the town of Carrick-on-Suir which is very close to Clonmel. It has not been flooded in recent years but Clonmel has, although one is only a short distance up stream from the other.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Is there a whole of Government approach to this issue? Is there someone, perhaps the Minister of State, who joins up the dots in respect of his colleague in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government? While floods were persecuting many families and farms throughout the west and south west, the reality for those in west and north County Dublin was that water tankers were providing water for many weeks because the water was literally dripping away through the pipes.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A brief question, if the Deputy would oblige me.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Does the Minister of State take responsibility for the whole of the river basin? Has the Minister of State been party to any review about the slowness of the relief, especially to families in the Shannon area, from the Red Cross and other agencies, which has been little short of disgraceful?

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the fact that the Minister has put the OPW, Office of Public Works, as the lead agency with regard to works to be co-ordinated and carried out. However, I was absolutely disappointed at the meeting yesterday of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, at which seven or eight agencies made presentations with regard to flooding on the Shannon and how it might be alleviated. Each agency, one after the other, declared on their importance and patch. Unless some real effort is put in by the Minister of State, these agencies will not be willing to relinquish any power they have. In south Galway, a vast area of land is still flooded. Some three months later nothing has happened to indicate progress. Will the Minister of State provide the list of places where the works might be carried out and when this might happen at the earliest possible convenience?

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works is not responsible for water management. We have a co-ordinating and a lead agency role in respect of flood protection and defence. We must work with other agencies. The floods directive will be transposed into law and my senior colleague will take a final look at the matter this week. Other agencies will be required to co-ordinate with the Office of Public Works in terms of their plans and procedures. After that passes into law, it will not be the case that the Office of Public Works will assume dictatorial powers.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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It should do so.

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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We must work with other agencies.

As far as the community welfare officer scheme is concerned there may be different experiences throughout the country. I do not have direct responsibility for that; it is the bailiwick of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. However, it works extraordinarily well in Clonmel and this was the case on two occasions last year as well.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Is the Minister of State or the Government doing anything to offer protection in cases of private householders or commercial enterprises which cannot get insurance cover as a consequence of several incidents with long-term consequences occurring within a very short time? Is the Minister of State taking any measures to offer those people comfort?

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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I refer to the overall review and the recent floods in the context of my constituency in Limerick. Many of the floods were man made. The Minister of State should examine two elements of the problem that affected various people along the Shannon and the ESB. There is a general view that water could have been released earlier and over a longer period. I refer to very simple measures such as early warning systems to locate all the people in affected areas by mobile phones and so forth.

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to insurance cover. Insurance companies are influenced by where flood defence schemes or even minor measures are being carried out. For example, I have been informed that in the case of Ballinasloe if certain simple things are done, insurance would be resumed. When the scheme is complete in Clonmel insurance will be provided, which has not been the case for several years. Deputy O'Donnell has put forward a valid point, which is why the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in conjunction with me, issued floodplain planning guidelines in December. Some of the problems are man made and the purpose of the guideline is to try to ensure as far as possible that they cease to be made, at least as a result of planning decisions. There will be a CFRAM, catchment flood risk assessment and management, study for the Shannon from the estuary up to the pot.

Some early warning systems are in place already but more need to be put in place and that is part of the plan.