Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps that have been taken to establish an investigation into the flooding of Cork city in November 2009; the form this investigation will take; the person to whom it will report; if it will have to report within a set timeframe; when it will be established; if the Electricity Supply Board and Cork City Council will be involved in this investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2421/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I have initiated a review of the emergency response to the November 2009 flooding. The review will consider available information on the response to the flooding, consider if there are any improvements to be made to the response and make recommendations as to future action on the wider emergency management arising from the events.

In relation to the flooding in Cork City, the Office of Public Works (OPW), as lead Government agency for implementing the National Flood Policy in the matters of flood risk and mitigation, has commissioned the Lee Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study. The objective of the Study is to identify and map existing and potential future flood risk areas in the Lee catchment, through detailed hydrological/hydraulic modelling and flood mapping. This flood risk assessment also accounts for the likely impacts of land-use change, urban development and climate change on flood risk. Once the flood risk has been quantified and mapped throughout the catchment (with particular focus on developed areas or areas under potential development pressure) a Catchment Flood Risk Management Plan will be developed , which will include a prioritized set of actions, measures and works to manage the flood risk in the catchment.

In light of the recent flood events of November 2009 and the subsequent need to study the new data, the timeframe for completion has been extended to allow for a review of the risks and proposed options. Once the review is completed, the Flood Risk Management Plan will be published by the OPW, along with flood maps, for formal public consultation.