Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 597: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the research conducted on the costs and expected future costs of a flood defence works for the draft guidelines for planning authorities on the preparation of development plans to be published shortly on dealing with risk from flooding (details supplied). [9541/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated in reply to Questions Nos. 114 and 161 of 14 February 2006, the forthcoming draft guidelines for planning authorities on the preparation of development plans, will indicate that in addressing the issue of flooding, development plans should identify areas that experience or are at risk from flooding, drawing as appropriate from a process of flood risk mapping currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Works. Development plan policies should also outline the considerations that will arise in relation to development within or near such areas from the point of view of managing or alleviating existing flood risks and avoiding the generation of new flood risks.

The guidelines will also suggest that development plans should 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. Under sub-section 4 (b) of section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 a planning authority may attach conditions to a decision to grant permission for a development requiring the carrying out of works which the planning authority considers are required for the purposes of the development authorised by the permission. Given the diversity of conditions around the county and of responses that may be appropriate in terms of flood prevention and defence, detailed research was not commissioned in relation to potential costs in preparing the draft action plan guidelines.