Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, for facilitating this debate, which is very important in the context of Limerick. I refer to the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM study which, in layman's terms, produces flood risk management plans for specific areas in Ireland. In 2009, and more recently, there was severe flooding in the same locations. I refer to St. Mary's Park and Corbally in the city, Westbury and Castleconnell, Montpellier and Annacotty in the suburbs of Limerick and the Mountshannon Road between Annacotty and Castleconnell village.

The same individual homes and areas flooded. The Corbally Road flooded down to the back of Westbury. The mall in the village of Castleconnell flooded. Mulcair Drive in Annacotty flooded. The Minister of State knows from his experience in Athlone that people's homes have been flooded on two occasions, which was traumatic. Smaller estates flooded in Montpellier, a small village on the border between Tipperary and Clare outside Castleconnell.

The CFRAM study is being prepared. Having spoken to Limerick City and County Council, I note it wishes to proceed with the design of flood defences to be build in the locations to which I referred. It has been advised by the Office of Public Works, OPW, that it has to wait for the CFRAM study to be published. When will it be published? If there is a delay in publication, is there a method by which Limerick City and County Council could apply to the OPW for funding to allow the design work to get underway?

The Minister of State knows that in respect of special areas of conservation the process is very slow. It takes a number of years to get to the stage where building can commence. Some work has been on Verdant Crescent in St. Mary's Park in the city. The main works are about to go to planning and the process has taken some time. It has been traumatic for those living in St. Mary's Park who experienced flooding.

When will the CFRAM study be finalised and published? When can Limerick City and County Council apply for funding in order to submit properly designed flood defences for Corbally, Castleconnell, Montpellier, Annacotty and Mountshannon Road? I greatly admired the Minister of State's work in Athlone. I extend an invitation for him to come to Limerick and visit the locations to which I have referred to see at first hand how important it is to get flood defences in place.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I wish to thank the Senator for raising this matter today and I am pleased to provide an update on the status on the preparation of the CFRAM programme and when it is expected to be published. The CFRAM programme is the largest flood risk management programme ever undertaken by the State. The programme is focusing on 300 areas for further assessment, AFAs, including 90 coastal areas, mainly in urban locations nationwide, identified as being at potentially significant risk of flooding.

This programme has identified feasible flood relief measures to provide protection to 95% of properties at risk in the 300 areas. The details will be set out in flood risk management plan. Nearly 500 public consultation days have been held on the CFRAM programme, where the CFRAM teams met the communities involved to discuss the process face-to-face. Draft plans were published last year for public consultation.There was an extensive response to the public consultation on the draft plans and constructive and wide-ranging observations were provided. The review and assessment of these observations took longer than expected but reflects the nature of the value of the comments received. People’s views have helped form what is now proposed in the final plans. These are currently undergoing an independent review in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Once this independent review of all plans is completed and observations are addressed, the final plans will be formally submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for approval, in accordance with the statutory requirements. I hope by the end of this year to publish the final plans developed under the CFRAM process and to announce the proposed structural measures contained within those plans that will protect communities and properties at risk.

The CFRAM programme addresses the requirements of the EU floods directive as well as national flood policy. The Office of Public Works, OPW, has been in regular contact with the European Commission advising it of the progress with the finalisation of the plans. I assure the Seanad again that the Government will continue to ensure that measures to deal effectively with flooding through the development of the CFRAM programme and plans, and the continued investment in flood defence capital schemes, will receive the highest priority. I assure the Senator that in my role as Minister of State, I will give this a high priority. I sympathise with anyone affected by flooding, whether they are in Limerick, Cork, Clare or Athlone. Everything that can be done will be done. We hope that by the end of the year we will roll out the CFRAM provisions. It has taken longer than envisaged but I am pleased to say we are now coming to a finality. At the Senator's request, I will visit Limerick in the near future if he so wishes.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator got a good answer so I ask him to be very brief.

Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State and look forward to him coming to visit Limerick. He is more than welcome. This is very important to us. There has been an extensive consultation process and in one location, Castleconnell village, there was a need for a second consultation because of risk of flooding. The OPW did the further consultation and I expect it will be rectified. People are worried about another severe rainfall as they know the areas of Corbally, Castleconnell, Montpelier, Annacotty, Mountshannon road, as well as further into Clare with the likes of Clonard, will be flooded. The only way this can be arrested is if we get flood defences in place. I very much welcome that. I expect that any submissions from Limerick city and council to go with the design projects would give priority to the areas I spoke about for flood defences. I hope that will happen under the CFRAM study.