Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I regret that the Minister, Deputy Kelly, is not in a position to be present but I understand he is on other business. As winter approaches, the storms of last winter are etched into the minds of certain people, that is, those who have experienced flooding in their homes and businesses and of their land. A series of terrible storms was experienced that left terrible devastation in their wake. In my constituency and home town, approximately 100 houses have been identified as being at risk of flooding. In addition, there was flooding to housing in another area outside Ross, as well as in Westport, Crossmolina and other villages and towns nationwide. As winter approaches, people are fearful that this entire disaster might happen again if we experience, as we did previously, bad weather combined with high tides.

I welcome the work being done by the OPW in developing flood risk management plans. I understand it is studying 300 areas under the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme and has prepared flood risk maps which identify areas at risk and list all the factors which contribute to flooding in order that we might obtain a true picture of the position. As a result of the OPW's work, options will be identified in the context of flood mitigation measures. As matters stand, however, the people to whom I refer remain in the same position as last year. In other words, they are facing into the same risks and problems. Rather than waiting for the various options to be identified, I am of the view that action should be taken. The Government committed €45 million in capital expenditure in respect of this matter for the period 2012 to 2016 and a number of minor works have been carried out by local authorities. However, there is a need to support people in order that they will not feel helpless in their homes.

I propose the establishment of a small grant scheme to be administered by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government under the auspices of the housing grants schemes currently operated by local authorities. They have the wherewithal to provide small housing grants. If grants were provided for matters relating to the risk of flooding, people would no longer feel helpless because they would be in a position to erect small flood barriers outside their homes as a short-term measure. In such circumstances they would be able to rest assured that they had done the best they can and that the Government has done all it can, despite the various time and financial constraints which obtain. Taking this type of action would be less costly to the State than being obliged to provide financial relief to people when their homes or properties have been destroyed.

It is worth bearing in mind - this adds weight to the case I am making - that in many cases the owners of houses which have already been flooded can no longer obtain insurance for them. As a result, they will from now on be obliged to fork out their own money or turn to the State if their homes are again flooded. The type of flood barriers or gates to which I refer can be fitted for approximately €1,500 and I would welcome it if the State were to make a contribution in this regard. In assessing eligibility for grant payments, it would be necessary to examine the position with regard to the areas identified in the mapping exercise carried out by the OPW under the CFRAM programme. These areas could then be targeted and the people who live there could be empowered and enabled to take the action required rather than being obliged to wait years for the arrival of more long-term, effective solutions such as the construction of sea or river barriers. If it is decided to pay grants, I request that these have retrospective effect for those who have already forked out in order to have barriers put in place at their homes. When one considers what would be the final cost of repairing the damage caused by flooding, the case I have put forward makes a great deal of sense. I have discussed this matter with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, who is not averse to the proposal I have just outlined. I am aware of the financial constraints that obtain but I am of the view that this would be a worthwhile exercise.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. It was very good of her to allow the debate on it to proceed in light of the absence of the relevant Minister, Deputy Kelly.

The Office of Public Works is the lead State agency for flood risk management in Ireland. I understand the office is putting in place a range of measures to assist householders in flood-prone areas, based on its national programme of river catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, studies. This work is being undertaken in partnership with local authorities in order to meet national flood policy needs. The final outcome of the CFRAM programme is a comprehensive plan for areas at risk of flooding. This plan examines all possible options to address flood risk in particular areas and sets out a series of integrated measures of a structural and non-structural nature, as appropriate. I understand that draft CFRAM plans will be available by the end of 2015, with a view to their being finalised in 2016. These plans have already been completed in many areas.

It may be the case that in certain situations, structural or hard defence measures, such as walls or embankments, are not possible or appropriate to address the flood risk affecting a particular community or property. In such instances, the CFRAM plan may examine the viability of an option of individual property-protection measures as a way of addressing the flooding problem. This, however, would be considered in the context of the overall scheme to be implemented for the community in an area at risk of flooding as a whole, rather than as a type of grant scheme for individual property owners. As flood mitigation works issues do not fall within the area of responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, he has no plans for a housing grant scheme of the type suggested.

While the CFRAM programme will map out the State's strategy and priorities for flood defence investment for the period from 2016 onward, significant investment has already been, and will continue to be, made pending the programme's completion. From 1995 to date, almost €370 million was invested in flood risk management measures. These measures have protected 10,500 properties and have delivered benefits estimated at over €1 billion in terms of damage and losses avoided. The Government has prioritised investment in flood risk management by allocating a further €225 million for the period 2012 to 2017 as part of its infrastructure and capital investment framework. This is a very substantial financial commitment in the current difficult conditions and underlines the priority the Government attaches to this matter. There has also been significant investment in smaller scale, localised protection measures through the OPW's minor works scheme. Approximately €29.3 million has been approved for 422 projects since 2009, with approximately €25.1 million being expended on works which have been undertaken so far.

In March 2014 the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works announced details of a memorandum of understanding between the OPW and Insurance Ireland, the representative body for insurance companies in Ireland, on the exchange of information on completed flood defence works. Under this, Insurance Ireland members have been taking into account all information provided by the OPW when assessing exposure to flood risk within these areas since 1 June last. To date, the Office of Public Works has provided to Insurance Ireland information on 12 completed flood relief schemes in an agreed format. It should be borne in mind that decisions on the provision of flood insurance cover and on the premiums to be charged will remain a commercial matter for individual insurance companies. However, it would be the expectation that the operation of the memorandum of understanding and the continuing investment by the State in major flood defence works will lead to the greater availability of flood insurance in areas benefiting from those works.

I again thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I was immediately struck by a certain aspect of it as she read it into the record. I refer to the fact that - as was the case when flooding occurred last year - certain issues fall within the remit of the OPW, that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for providing emergency responses, that other matters are proper to the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Agriculture, Food and the Marine and that lands or property located within a special area of conservation, SAC, are overseen by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. There is a need for a cross-departmental approach on this matter. I accept that this need has been identified but I would like to see the actual approach implemented.

I raised this matter with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government because I am quite satisfied as a result of my experience in dealing with householders trying to obtain assistance from the State that the OPW has nothing to offer in the way of short-term solutions. I welcome the plans to put in place longer-term, significant solutions. I hope that such solutions will take account of the future rise in sea levels to which global warming is going to give rise. The easiest way to assist people in putting in place short-term solutions would be through the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. As already stated, I have mentioned this matter to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. I am of the view that the Ministers at the various Departments to which I have already referred should work together on this matter. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for putting in place the response to any emergency which might arise.

Provision of the type of assistance I referred to in my initial contribution would very much ameliorate people's concerns. As is normally the case with housing grants, the Government would not be obliged to pay the full amount for the erection of the small flood barriers or gates I described earlier. Local authorities are excellent when it comes to disbursing small grants of the type to which I refer. I acknowledge that work is being done but there are many householders and business owners who have not and may not benefit from this.

People understand that and the financial constraints but just want some assistance. I ask that this measure be discussed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, and the other appropriate Ministers because it is very worthwhile. It would result in savings for the State in the longer term because it costs the State more money to assist financially people who are flooded but who have no insurance.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I am sure the Deputy's remarks are being listened to by the officials in both the OPW and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I will ensure that the comments made by the Deputy on the record will be made known to the appropriate Ministers.