Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to issue guidelines to local authorities on the issue of development on flood plains in view of recent research and experiences worldwide. [32277/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Planning and Development Act 2000 empowers planning authorities to provide in their development plans that development in areas at risk of flooding may be regulated, restricted or controlled. Where development is proposed in an area at risk of flooding, such risk can be carefully evaluated by the planning authority and planning permission refused, where appropriate, or, if granted, can be made subject to conditions requiring the implementation of measures necessary to alleviate or avoid damage due to flooding.

It is my intention to publish shortly, in draft form for public consultation, guidelines for planning authorities on the preparation of development plans. These guidelines will suggest that in addressing the issue of flooding development plans should identify the main river catchments and coastal areas that experience or are at risk from flooding. Policies should then outline the considerations that will arise in relation to development within such catchments and coastal areas from the point of view of managing existing flood risks or avoiding the generation of new flood risks. The guidelines will suggest that development plan policies dealing with flooding also need to recognise the uncertainties inherent in the prediction of flooding and the fact that flood risk is expected to increase as a result of climate change. Development plan objectives could also include policies indicating that developers will be required to support the funding of flood defences needed for particular developments, either partially or fully, depending on the circumstances involved.

My Department will welcome comments or suggestions on this or any other aspect of the draft guidelines following their publication.