Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the preparations for likely flooding during winter 2016 and spring 2017; the amount of money which has been drawn down by local authorities to date in 2016; the amount scheduled to be drawn down between now and year end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30935/16]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Before I introduce my question, I sought to ask the Minister a question today about the dispute with the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, the Garda Representative Association, GRA, and the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, ASTI, although I note Deputy Paul Murphy also asked a question about the ASTI. The questions were referred to line Ministers, which is very frustrating. It happens a lot in the Department that questions get sent down the line to line Ministers even though the focus is fully on the Department.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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That is a matter for the Department.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I want to record my frustration with it. Many people in communities throughout the country are in fear of flooding. Even though it is the middle of October and an autumnal day today, many communities face the prospect of their houses and businesses being destroyed once again, in some cases for the second or third time in less than 12 months. What exactly has been done to date? How much money has been committed to local authorities and has been drawn down? What is the status of the Department's plans for a relocation scheme and for assistance and insurance for people who want to move away from the distress? There has been a policy change on the dredging of rivers which was announced last night. I want to pursue that with the Minister of State.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Deputy deviated a bit from his question so I will begin by answering the question that was submitted by the Deputy.

The Office of Public Works, OPW, has a lead co-ordination role in flood risk management generally but it does not play a lead role in responding to flood events, which is the responsibility of the local authorities. The local authorities are required to plan and prepare for such events in accordance with the general arrangements for co-ordination of the front-line emergency services set out in the framework for major emergency management which comes under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. That Department is the lead Department for co-ordinating the response to severe weather.

The response to all emergencies is appropriately locally led in the first instance through the three designated principal response agencies of An Garda Síochána, local authorities and the Health Service Executive which respond to assist citizens in need and manage consequences at local level. Specific guidance for responding to severe weather events is outlined in A Guide to Flood Emergencies 2013 and A Guide to Severe Weather Events 2010. Local authorities have severe weather sub-plans in place based on this guidance material.

Met Éireann and the Office of Public Works alert local authorities directly when severe weather, high tides or storm surges are forecast, and such warnings are received by a severe weather assessment team within a local authority. The severe weather assessment team takes the appropriate action to scale a response and to ensure resources are in place to support a response. During last winter’s flooding, this approach helped to anticipate and prepare for the response required by local authorities.

The procedures for co-ordination of emergencies at national level, such as flooding events, are set out in the Guidelines for Coordinating a National-Level Emergency/Crisis Response, published by the Office of Emergency Planning in the Department of Defence in 2011.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State's time has expired.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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With regard to the Deputy's question about money spent, I presume he is talking about the minor works programme. Since the scheme was introduced, €37 million has been allocated to the local authorities, bringing protection to 4,500 houses.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State can come back in.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I do not want to personalise this because the Minister of State has brought great energy and focus to the issue. His answer goes to the heart of one of the problems here. It is a problem for another Department, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. The purpose of a Minister with responsibility for flooding was to take responsibility for every part of it. Some consideration should be given to the Minister of State getting ministerial responsibility in that Department to lead the focus there.

Crossmolina was almost flooded on 11 September when there were extraordinary levels of water three months before such levels are expected, which gives an idea of what the problem will be throughout the country because of the absence of a good summer. If a person's house is going to be flooded this October or November, he or she does not care what Department the Minister of State is in, he or she just wants somebody to do a good job. People want somebody to get on with the job. I am not convinced the OPW understands the pressure households are under. In response to a question from our colleague, Deputy Murphy, recently, the chair of the OPW spoke of a five-year plan and of going further than that. Does the chair of the OPW understand what it is like to have to wake up every morning and listen to the weather forecast to know if one's house will be flooded in the next few hours? That is the experience of communities throughout the country. The Minister of State has experienced it directly.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I will reiterate a number of things. The chair of the OPW was talking about the five-year investment programme of €430 million by the Government for flood relief. There was another issue of the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, which is a ten-year plan. People have suggested that it means nothing will happen for ten years, which is wrong. Last year we had four flood relief schemes under construction. By the end of this year, there will be 12 relief schemes under construction in the country. There are more than 20 schemes in different stages of planning and design. The minor works, which I explained to the Deputy, have so far delivered protection to 4,500 properties.

To return to one other issue that came up, the Office of Emergency Planning will launch its Be Winter Ready campaign on 9 November. The Department is helping with that and is part of that group. The lead is being taken by the Department of Defence. There is no way we are leaving anything for five years. We are doing everything we can at this stage.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his clarification on CFRAM because the impression was that it is a five or ten-year process. Will the Minister of State give me an update on the scheme for Crossmolina? A third Department is being introduced into the equation now. We have the OPW, which is under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and the Department of Defence. That is why there is such a lack of an emergency response when an event happens. If a person is in business or living in an area, he or she wants an immediate response. Actually, he or she does not want it to happen at all. Will the Minister of State give me an update on Crossmolina and the status of the insurance scheme for businesses that cannot get insurance?

I am aware of houses that have schemes in place but they are subject to a 100% increase in their insurance premium, if they can get it. Finally, there is the concept of a relocation scheme for people who wish to move out of flood affected areas into areas that will not be affected by floods.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Regarding the relocation scheme and the insurance, we have had discussions in the interdepartmental group and we are meeting again next Tuesday. Hopefully, we will bring an interim report from there to Cabinet with recommendations on those schemes. Also on the subject of insurance, there is a memorandum of understanding in place between the OPW and Insurance Ireland. It is now the case that Insurance Ireland meets with the Office of Public Works on a quarterly basis, rather than once every two years, to try to address issues relating to temporary flood barriers that are put in place and the insurance. We are working closely with Insurance Ireland to get over all the technical questions it has on that.

With regard to Crossmolina, works are being carried out on cleaning downstream from the bridge. That was done last week. Approximately €150,000 has been allocated for minor works to improve flood barriers along the river in the town. The pilot scheme for the floodgates for the houses is ongoing and they should be installed in the next month. Finally, the major flood relief scheme is being designed currently. Due to the issue with the bridge, consideration is being given to doing the bypass channel. That scheme will come up for exhibition next year.