Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has assessed the possibility of merging existing agencies or responsibilities of agencies into a single River Shannon organisation that would plan for flooding and related matters along the River Shannon catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9622/10]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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A comprehensive management programme for the River Shannon is being addressed now through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme under the direction of the Office of Public Works. The CFRAM Programme underpins the essentials of the assessment of flood risk and the long-term planning of the flood risk management measures for the River Shannon catchment and other catchment areas throughout the country and includes capital, structural and non-structural measures.

The CFRAM studies are comprehensive catchment-based studies, which focus on and identify areas at risk from flood events for a range of severities and to produce a prioritised plan of measures and actions for dealing with areas where the risk is significant, and to ensure that all flood risk factors are identified and managed in a coordinated way. The Shannon FRAM study, which is expected to commence in mid-2010, will involve consultation with all of the main stakeholders, including the public, the ESB, Waterways Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service and relevant Local Authorities.

The CFRAM programme meets the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive and the EU Floods Directive, which provide for a framework for a coordinated approach to the management of the river catchment systems. The Floods Directive is being transposed into national law at present, and the OPW will be appointed as the Competent Authority under the requirements of the Directive. This legislation will reinforce the role of OPW in coordinating the management of the CFRAM programme.