Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if funding is available from his Department, the State agencies under his remit or the EU to local authorities or communities who have suffered flood damage to their properties, residential and commercial; if he will investigate particular problems attached to the flooding in these areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46475/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I recognize the hardship that has been caused in many parts of the country as a result of the serious flooding over recent weeks and I am appreciative of the professional and rapid response by local authorities and their staff and other agencies in dealing with the many difficult situations encountered. I also recognize that local authorities are of necessity incurring immediate and exceptional expenditure in responding to this situation and the difficulties this may pose for them in light of the constraints on their finances at this time. It has been decided, therefore, to allocate supplementary funding of up to €10 million towards exceptional expenditure directly related to flood relief activities by the local authorities concerned.

The Government has also allocated an initial sum of €10 million to fund a humanitarian assistance scheme, which is being administered by the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. My colleague, the Minister for Finance yesterday announced that in excess of €70 million will be provided over the remainder of 2009 and into 2010 to help those affected and fund work to minimise the risks of future flooding incidents.

I have recently requested reports from local authorities on the effects of the flooding in their areas and an assessment of the measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of such flooding in the future. The reports will be considered in the context of funding allocations for 2010 and will also be forwarded to other Government Departments and Offices, including the Office of Public Works, to consider the matters for which they are responsible. When the reports are received from the local authorities and other relevant agencies on the extent of the flooding and urgent remedial works required, the question of seeking EU funding having regard to the limited eligibility criteria for such funding will be undertaken.

The Office of Public Works, as lead agency for implementing the National Flood Policy, is working with Local Authorities and other state bodies to reduce the risk of future flooding both through the provision of defences to best practice standards and by taking steps to mitigate or reduce future risk of flooding. In accordance with this Policy, and in compliance with the EU Floods Directive, the OPW is undertaking a programme of Flood Risk Assessment and Management Studies for each catchment in the country. These studies will identify and map the areas where there is significant flood risk, and will produce a plan of prioritised measures to manage that risk. In assessing risk, significant contributing factors such as drains, dykes, underground waterways, culverts and flood plains will be considered, where appropriate. The studies will consider both capital works and non-structural measures. In a parallel exercise, a screening process is currently under way by OPW to identify other areas where the flood risk may be significant. This exercise includes a review of past floods, and the recent flooding around the country will be taken into account to help the identification of high risk areas and solutions.