Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State and convey my gratitude for his interest in and support for areas affected by flooding. This is a parochial matter for everyone. The Minister of State was in Skibbereen and knows the area quite well. The concerns expressed by the local flood committee relate to a number of items identified as housekeeping or basic works to be done on the River Ilen or the Caol Stream adjacent to it. The Minister said that if Cork County Council made an application for emergency flood relief funding, he would not be found wanting. I am not sure whether such an application was made. The anniversary of the major flood is 19 November, which I remember well. I was caught in the flood. The town was flooded twice after that and survived a fourth attempt during the bad winter last year.

A report has been commissioned which has been put out to tender. There has been a long delay in the process which is causing concern locally. However, I do not dispute that a report is required in order to prevent a major flood such as might occur every 50 or 100 years in the River Ilen catchment area and the town. As someone who worked in the town for many years and still has a close association with it, the cleaning of the River Ilen is fundamental. The Minister looked at debris that had either been dumped or collected near Kennedy Bridge close to the West Cork Hotel. Debris had also collected in a relief channel, the Caol Stream and culverts. If all of that work was done, it would probably ensure ordinary floods occurring once every ten years could be averted or, at least, diminished. Flooding occurred in the area of Glencurragh adjacent to the GAA football pitch. A retired man whose premises had flooded three times damaged a thumb when trying to cut a timber. Such flooding had never happened before in the time he had been living there.

Subject to correction by the Minister of State, I have deep concerns that the new Skibbereen bypass which forms part of the N71 contributed to flooding in certain areas. Council workers and engineers who observed the flooding on the night it occurred said there was 2 m to 3 m to spare under the Kennedy Bridge near the West Cork Hotel which is on the way out of the town towards the sea. They said there was plenty of room, but the water could not pass through where the new bypass had been built. That matter should have been addressed when the work was being planned.

It might not be a major issue, but the concern is that winter is approaching and weather experts are predicting a harsh one similar to last year, with a lot of rain. We all remember what happened last year. People in the town are conscious that as of now little or nothing has been done. The council spent €10,000 on preliminary work on the river, involving a machine cleaning one section, but owing to a lack of funding the work ceased. Irrespective of what will happen following a flood relief study that might take another 12 months before it comes before the council or the Minister, it is essential that basic housekeeping is carried out, including the cleaning of culverts, the Caol Stream and the Riven Ilen of debris that has accumulated. Perhaps some of the debris is due to the major sewage works carried out recently in the town. If such work was carried out, local people would accept the commitment to undertake the work was being fulfilled. Notwithstanding a major plan for the town and the Riven Ilen catchment area coming into Skibbereen to deal with abnormally high levels of flood water as occurs every 100 years, basic housekeeping would still be required.

The Minister of State may not have received an application to do the work, but a three-stage plan was costed at approximately €1 million. The three parts were put before the Minister of State. The Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government which is chaired by Deputy Fleming visited the town. In the early part of this year the perception held by the community at large - I do not speak in a political way - was that essential remedial works would be carried out, but as of now little or nothing has been done. I am concerned that if another flood occurs, adverse comments will be made against public representatives, irrespective of party, and county council engineers.

Skibbereen has suffered a lot. It is a relatively small town when compared to a city such as Cork or a town such as Ennis or Fermoy which are bigger. A total of 200 premises, homes and businesses, in the town were affected by flooding. A significant number of people were affected. Old people were frightened out of their lives by the flooding and some had to move, not all of whom have been able to move back because the repairs have taken a long time to complete. I will not address the question of insurance. I seek a ray of hope from the Minister of State that the OPW through Cork Council or otherwise will do the basic remedial work to restore confidence in the people of the town.

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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Like the Senator, I am very conscious of our vulnerability to the weather. I welcome every day that is like today.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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We all do.

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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While the long-term forecast, in so far as any faith can be placed in it, refers to a harsh winter, it does not refer to a very wet one. We will see.

I thank the Senator for giving me an opportunity to update the House on the progress made in addressing the flooding problem in Skibbereen since my appearance in the House on the matter earlier this year. When I last spoke on the issue, I had recently travelled around the Cork area to see at first hand and discuss the impact of the severe flooding in November 2009. I visited a number of locations in the county, including Skibbereen. Having seen the damage and talked to many of the town's residents, I am acutely aware of the distress they suffered at the time and their concern that steps be taken quickly to prevent a recurrence. I would like to assure them again of my determination to provide every assistance in that regard. Before moving on to what is being done to address these concerns, I again acknowledge the tremendous contribution of personnel from Cork County Council, the Army and Civil Defence in combatting the flooding last winter which ensured the devastation experienced in Skibbereen was not even more severe.

As I promised during my visit, the Office of Public Works has been working in partnership with Cork County Council to tackle the flood problem at locations throughout the county, including providing expertise and guidance on flood solutions for the Skibbereen area. I had an informal meeting with the county manager in July which focused to a considerable extent on flooding issues. The aim continues to be to ensure the preferred solution is one that will afford the required level of protection, while also addressing any environmental issues and providing the best value for money.

In the aftermath of the November flood event, Cork County Council took the lead in addressing flooding in the town by commissioning an initial scoping report from consultants. The consultants looked at previous reports on the problem and identified channel capacity and tidal factors as likely contributing factors. A key recommendation of their report was that further, more detailed, analysis be undertaken which would take account of recent changes in the area, including urban development and climate change.

The council subsequently submitted a number of applications for funding in respect of Skibbereen under the Office of Public Works minor flood mitigation works scheme which provides funding for interim works to address localised flood problems where a solution has been identified or can be identified readily. To qualify for funding, proposals must be economically viable and environmentally sustainable and should cost not more than €500,000 in each case. The applications submitted by the council for Skibbereen were in respect of, first, a study focused on the River Ilen; second, interim flood mitigation works and, third, a flood warning system.

Following an assessment of the applications submitted by the council, the Office of Public Works allocated funding of €120,000 in 2010 for a comprehensive study which will examine the cause of the flooding problem in the town and identify appropriate, cost-effective solutions. In addition to providing funding, the Office of Public Works provided substantial assistance for the council in developing the brief for the study. The council has already completed the pre-qualification process to select consultants for the study and it is understood that it will seek tenders from the consultants shortly. The council estimates that the study will take approximately eight months to complete.

With regard to the council's applications for interim mitigation works, it was the Office of Public Works' expert assessment that the proposals for which funding was sought which had a combined estimate of cost in excess of €1 million were premature in the light of the forthcoming study and would not have a significant impact in reducing flood risk. It is the view of the Office of Public Works that, given the scale and relative complexity of the flooding problem, the recommendations of the proposed study will provide the appropriate context for development of proposals for major flood relief works.

On the council's application for funding to implement a flood warning system to cover a number of locations, including Skibbereen, the proposed study will examine the viability of a range of options to address flood risk, including a flood warning system. The OPW carried out preliminary work on the feasibility of such a system, which will feed into this process.

At this stage, however, it is not possible to give a definitive timescale for the implementation of any works or other measures recommended by the study. The timescale would be influenced by a number of factors, including the scale of the proposed measures and the associated statutory or other consent processes. Every effort will be made to progress their implementation as quickly as possible in line with normal procedure.

Pending the implementation of any major flood relief scheme the study may recommend, it would be open to the council to develop and seek funding from the OPW under the minor works scheme for, alternative proposals for minor mitigation works. Any such applications that meet the criteria of the scheme will be given every consideration.

I am committed to securing effective and appropriate solutions to the problems that have been experienced by the people of Skibbereen. I am confident the approach being followed by the OPW and the council offers the best prospect of this objective being achieved. Skibbereen, like Bandon, is on the radar as a high priority location. I will take up the invitation to attend the Skibbereen forum, even if members might find the position I outlined disappointing. Between now and then, the specifics mentioned by the Senator will be examined. The onus, however, is on the council to put forward proposals. Some of the things mentioned fall entirely within the council remit but we support those councils that wish to carry out minor works. Money is not the issue, it is a question of the effectiveness of such measures. I have no doubt significant works will be identified as a result of the studies under way and my office will give priority to addressing this issue. It has not been possible to carry out many works before winter but there is no reason to believe the Irish climate is now subject to a monsoon season that starts in mid-November, although I hope I do not have to eat my words in a month. I will come to Skibbereen and listen to what people have to say. My engineers will be in touch with the council and if we can do anything in the short term to alleviate the situation, we will do it.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I accept the Minister of State's sincerity in addressing the issue. I am delighted he has agreed to attend the forum in Skibbereen, which is not just parochial. The plan is to rotate to Ennis and other towns to achieve solutions to the flooding problem. People in many areas suffered last year. Cork city, Bandon and Skibbereen all suffered. Skibbereen was on the long finger for many years because there had not been a major flood, but now that the town has suffered, I hope people, especially the elderly, will never again have to suffer what they went through on 19 November last year. I am reassured the Minister of State will do everything possible. I might put the squeeze on Cork County Council to ensure it is doing everything possible.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State. It is extraordinary we have two motions on flooding in Cork on the Adjournment. Last weekend in Cork city the first flood of the winter season took place. There was a sense of fear and concern among the residents of the Marsh, the Mardyke and the Middle Parish and among business people that 12 months on from the flooding in 2009, there is still no early warning system and the quay walls at Grenville Place have not been repaired. There is concern there is no early warning system that uses text messaging, e-mail or the postal system. Last year there was terrible flooding and Cork was visited by the Minister of State and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Many of us worked with the residents and there are still people who have not been able to return to their homes.

We all want an improved flood alert system but what measures have been taken by the Government to advance this? People are concerned about the availability of sandbags for residences and businesses. I read the Minister of State's reply to Senator O'Donovan but progress has been slow. There has been a lot of hyperbole and hiding behind reports and studies. We have ruled out the major works scheme in Cork city that would cost nearly €100 million and have agreed to minor flood relief works. If we cannot get the major works, can we at least get those minor works done, particularly the repairs to the quay walls at Grenville Place?

We must invest properly in flood protection measures. The start of that for the residents of the Middle Parish, the Marsh and the Mardyke is to have a flood alert warning system that would allow for a traffic light-style indication of risk. We must reassure residents that works will be carried out, that we will put in place an adequate flood warning system and that what happened to them last year will not happen again.

I hope the Minister of State will be positive in his reply. He has been attentive in the past and has listened to residents in the Middle Parish. We must have more than just listening, however. Money must be invested in order that there is a tangible outcome for residents.

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I do not mean this in a personal way, but it is extraordinary that it takes so long to get things done. After a period of 12 months the quay walls at Grenville Place will be restored. According to the Minister of State, a report has been commissioned and will be concluded in 2011. We have already had our first flood, although it was not as bad as last year's. Business people and homeowners are not confident that they are being heeded and that there will be a proper response if there is a recurrence of last year's events, which I hope will not be the case. I hope we can expedite the matter. It is unacceptable that there are no quay walls or an early warning system in place 12 months on.

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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One of the advantages of genuinely minor relief works under €100,000 is that one does not have to go through many procedures to procure them. With the more valuable contracts, unfortunately, one is obliged to go through public tendering procedures. The European Union does not give us a choice in the matter. Many minor relief works are relatively simple and can be done quickly, but the more complicated a task is the more it requires thought, work and research to be effective.

I hope, as I am sure the Senator does, that the weather will give us some breathing space. Based on existing criteria, many of these flood events are supposed to occur once in a period of several decades. There is a real problem in Cork, but I hope we will have some breathing space and have advanced further by the time the next serious flood event occurs.