Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the flood prevention measures that have been taken locally by Government agencies, in view of the fact that insurance companies are writing to residents in areas representing a higher than standard flood risk and asking them to confirm the flood prevention measures that have been taken locally by State agencies; if such measures have not been taken; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the insurance companies are requesting that residents carry out extensive works to their homes and to accept responsibility for the first €2,500 of any flood claim; and if any flood prevention measures have been undertaken downstream of the Inniscarra Dam on the River Lee in County Cork. [22550/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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It is the position of the Office of Public Works that the flood defence works undertaken, or funded, by the OPW should always be taken into account in the provision and cost of flood insurance.

Under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme funding may be provided by the Office of Public Works to local authorities, to undertake minor flood mitigation measures to address localised flooding and coastal erosion problems within their administrative areas.

In the period 2010-2011 OPW has funded approximately €2.4m under the Minor Works scheme to both the City and County Councils in respect of the Cork city area. Some €900,000 of this funding has been provided to Cork City Council to commission works for the repair of the quay walls which were breached in the 2009 flood event.

The major flood relief study on the River Lee catchment is being finalised at present. Following completion of the study it is proposed to engage consultants to carry out detailed design of the lower Lee flood defence works and to examine possible changes in operational procedures for Inniscarra dam.

In the meantime, the OPW continues to review operational protocols with the ESB in respect of outflows controlled by them in the Lee river catchment. In this regard, following a request from the OPW, ESB put in place interim measures, prior to the implementation of the CFRAMS process, on a pilot basis for the winter period 2010-2011, to provide additional flood protection downstream of Inniscarra. This involved reducing the spill level in Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid by 0.5m.

I met, earlier this month, with representatives of the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) to review the interchange of information sharing between the OPW and the insurance industry with a view to ensuring that the industry is fully cognisant of the substantial capital investment made by the State in flood prevention measures over many years, both in respect of major and minor works.

The OPW is in the process of supplying detailed mapping of areas nationally which have benefitted from capital flood works. In addition the IIF has agreed to take up membership of the national stakeholder group of the Catchment Flood Risk, Assessment and Management programme to be established later this year.

The IIF has reassured me that the vast majority of properties are covered by flood insurance at present.

To this end, my Office will continue its liaison with the Irish Insurance Federation in 2011 and will endeavour to assist in any practical way with keeping the IIF fully informed as to its various programmes of flood alleviation, which should be taken into account in informing applications for flood insurance.