Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 1503: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to deal with flooding problems likely to arise from global warming and the consequent rising of sea levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29049/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities may include in their development plans objectives regulating, restricting or controlling development in areas at risk of flooding. Where development is proposed in an area at risk of flooding, it is a matter for each planning authority to evaluate such risk, on the basis of a flood risk assessment where appropriate and planning permission may either be refused, or, if granted, can be made subject to conditions requiring the implementation of measures necessary to alleviate or avoid damage due to flooding.

Draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on the preparation of Development Plans were published for public consultation last April. These draft Guidelines advise that, in addressing the issue of flooding, development plans should identify areas that experience or are at risk from flooding, drawing from the process of flood risk mapping currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Works. Local development plan policies should then outline the considerations that will arise in relation to development within or near such areas from the point of view of managing existing flood risks or avoiding the generation of new flood risks.

The draft Guidelines also 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. It is expected that the Guidelines will be finalised in the near future.