Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Within the past six weeks we approved the repairs to the quay walls and they are about commence, if they have not already started. Notwithstanding what I told Senator O'Donovan, it was an exceptional minor relief works measure costing almost €1 million. It was a little outside the parameters of the minor relief works scheme.

Another relevant matter involves the 12 km stretch between the Inniscarra dam and the outskirts of Cork city. We are undertaking works that will strengthen the banks, meaning there can be a higher outflow from the dam without flooding so as to reduce the risk of a repeat of the events of last November.

The catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, study identified a series of works in the River Lee catchment area. I do not interpret this as meaning we or successor Governments will not be spending substantial sums of money, but the question was whether we would be committing ourselves at this stage to spending a sum of €120 million or so. The answer may be decided in the light of experience, but County Cork is on the front line and its CFRAM study will finish first. As I have often stated, we are spending at least 20% of the national budget in County Cork, although I appreciate some of the works are not directly relevant to Cork city. Therefore, County Cork is high on the radar screen.

I thank Senator Buttimer for giving me an opportunity to update the Seanad on the progress made in addressing flood forecasting and flood warning. The issue of a national flood warning system was raised with me by a number of public representatives during the severe flood event of November 2009. At the time I gave an undertaking that the OPW would examine the issue and table recommendations. Flood forecasting and flood warning can help to reduce flood damage and help people and authorities to be better prepared. However, they cannot prevent a flood occurring.

A number of issues must be considered. The effectiveness of a flood warning system depends on a number of factors, including reliable rainfall forecasts, accurate flood forecasts based on rainfall, upstream river levels and lead time that can be achieved at the area in question, effective communication and dissemination of a warning, and the preparedness of the emergency response services and the public in general to react to the information provided. The issue was reiterated in the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, The Management of Severe Weather Events in Ireland and Related Matters, published in July. Recommendation No. 15 provided:

Appropriate flood early warning systems should be put in place by the OPW on all major river systems or parts thereof where a substantial ongoing flood risk in known to exist. Providing some degree of early warning system in such places should not need to await the detailed studies planned under the CFRAM process.

As the CFRAM process in the Rier Lee area is advanced, it is not really a relevant consideration in this respect. The OPW has commissioned consultants to prepare a strategic review of options for flood forecasting and flood warning. The purpose of the study is to examine the potential benefits that flood forecasting and warnings could achieve in Ireland, identify and assess the options for delivery of such a service, including the associated resource requirements, and develop an appropriate and sustainable strategy, including consideration of the potential impacts of climate change, for flood forecasting and flood warning. The study will also examine the procedures and infrastructure required for a flood forecasting and flood warning service, including the resourcing, installation, maintenance and operation of any possible system or systems.

To this end, the consultancy firm appointed to carry out the feasibility study, JBA Consulting, has undertaken to deliver its review in a five-stage programme. Stage 1 is the examination of the existing context of and current arrangements for flood forecasting and flood warning in Ireland. Stage 2 consists of a significant review of existing and emerging international best practice in flood forecasting and flood warning. Stage 3 is an assessment and evaluation of these international options with respect to their feasibility in Ireland. Stage 4 consists of the identification of the preferred or recommended option or suite of options for flood forecasting and flood warning. Stage 5 is the development of a programme for effective implementation of a recommended option or suite of options. This five-stage delivery programme is scheduled to be completed within a ten-month timeframe and conclude in the first quarter of next year.

A major conference for stakeholders was held last month. Those attending the workshop included representatives of all the primary response agencies in the major emergency management framework. An extensive schedule of consultations was carried out at the conference. I do not wish at this stage to pre-empt the outcome of the review. Nevertheless, I look forward to receiving a draft report on the review in early 2011 and will consider the options and recommendations arising therefrom with great interest. I am greatly encouraged that the commissioning of this important report is well on schedule and that it will advance a thorough evaluation of this important requirement in a quantum manner.

I would like to mention the existing catchment-based flood forecasting systems being piloted at Mallow and Clonmel in conjunction with demountable flood defence systems in these towns. These systems, operated by the relevant local authorities, have proved, in the flood events of November 2009 in the case of Mallow, to be highly effective in assisting in the management of demountable flood defences. They were also of considerable assistance to the emergency services in Clonmel which had approximately eight hours notice. It is a lot of time in which much can be done.

As the Senator is aware, I launched the CFRAM study for the River Lee in early 2010. One of the recommendations made in the report was that the assessment, scoping and development of fluvial and integrated fluvial-tidal flood forecasting systems should be examined. Work is progressing with Cork county and city councils on developing this recommendation. There was some tidal flooding in the city without any fluvial flooding earlier this week.

It is important to note that international experience elsewhere points to the relative ineffectiveness of some systems adopted in other jurisdictions where insufficient thought was given to the deliberative and planning phases of such systems. Clearly, the feasibility of any system or systems which the report may propose will be predicated on the ability to resource not only the commissioning of any such system but also its ongoing implementation and operation.

Reverting to the matter of the quay walls at Grenville Place, the local authority is taking the lead and the OPW has provided funds. It is anticipated that the contractor will be appointed in November.