Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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6. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to implement the recommendations made in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht's report on River Shannon flooding published in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11649/15]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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In 2012 an all-party group was established which produced a report. Many of its members were from within the catchment of the River Shannon. We made eight specific recommendations on steps that could be taken immediately to address the ongoing problem of summer flooding within the River Shannon catchment. To date, one of these proposals has been implemented by the Office of Public Works. It relates to dropping water levels in Lough Rea, which havs had an impact in the management of these waters. We have yet to see action being taken on the other seven initiatives recommended.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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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.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I take issue with the Minister's last comment, that he will be asked to find resources. With all due respect, he will be long retired and have his feet up somewhere warm and dry by the time that happens.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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God forgive the Deputy.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The sunny south east.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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The difficulty is that everything is being kicked down the road while we await the CFRAM programme report. The joint committee's report was framed in the context of the CFRAM programme. There are far more extensive things that could be done while we await the CFRAM programme study. There are eight practical measures that could be put in place and that will have to be put in place. Do we not need to have a single agency with authority for the River Shannon and the management of its waters? We have seen the implications, whereby matters on which decisions are required fall between stools.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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On the face of it, that sounds like a logical proposal, but I understand a previous Oireachtas committee came to a different conclusion. Each of the agencies involved, whether it be the OPW, the local authorities, the fisheries board or the ESB, has a different statutory function. What is needed is proper co-ordination, rather than have somebody call all the shots. As we saw in Cork, for example, sometimes a decision by one agency can have a detrimental effect on the risk of flooding. Charging one agency to make directions is probably not what is required. I am open to taking a view on that issue, but it would not fall to me to make the decision.

Better co-ordination is required and something I have asked the OPW to ensure. Undertaking proper mapping through the CFRAM study will give us an important understanding of where the pressure points will be in the future, as well as mapping the effects of climate change into the future. There will be resource implications, but, please God, I will be in a position to allocate the resources required and will not have my feet up by then.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. I accept the point he is making, but the previous and current committees recommended that there be a lead agency to co-ordinate matters. No one is in charge; there is no single Minister answerable to the House. We already know, in the context of the Asian clam problem, that a lack of co-ordination and indecisiveness among the agencies involved led to a situation where no action was taken for months. We do not have months where we have a flooding problem to deal with. One of the recommendations made was that work be undertaken immediately on the River Shannon and its tributaries to clear the peat silt that had accumulated during the years. As the Minister knows, the big problem is that the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, prevented such work from being carried out in the past. Will he ensure humans will have equal priority with flora and fauna, along with the impact of flooding on human beings, families and their homes? I ask that an assessment be carried out of the failure to date of the OPW because of the blockage by the NPWS to carry out maintenance works on the river.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will raise the points made by the Deputy with the OPW directly and the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, who is not able to be here today. There is certainly an understanding that human habitation and human beings take priority.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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No, there is not.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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The Minister should tell that to the NPWS.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am quite certain it is the view of the OPW and would be astounded if it was not. As I said, I will pass on the views of the Deputy to the Minister of State and the OPW directly.