Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of flood relief initiatives that will be undertaken in 2012 and the associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20284/12]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works undertakes a number of flood relief initiatives in any year under programmes, which, in some cases, are delivered directly through its own resources and in other cases are delivered in conjunction with other agencies such as local authorities. The principal programmes are:

1. Major Capital Works Schemes

2. Minor Coastal and Non-Coastal Schemes

3. National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM)

Studies

4. Arterial Drainage Maintenance

The total allocation included in the OPW's Vote in 2012 for the above flood relief programmes is €60.78m.

Under its Major Capital Works Programme, the OPW currently has nine major flood relief schemes at construction stage. It is expected that another six schemes will commence construction before the end of 2012, subject to completion of procurement and other preparatory formalities and availability of funding. There are also a further 11 schemes at various stages of design and planning. Approximately €29 million is expected to be expended on all of these schemes during the course of the year.

Under the Minor Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, the OPW provides funding to local authorities for smaller scale, more localised mitigation measures they wish to undertake in their areas. It is open to any local authority to submit an application to the OPW for funding under the scheme. The standard application forms, guidelines and eligibility criteria, are available on the OPW website. Each application will be assessed in accordance with the criteria now in place and having regard to the overall availability of financial resources for such works in 2012. To date this year, funding of almost €1.5m has been approved under the Scheme for 13 local authorities in respect of 36 projects. Total funding of €21.4m was approved in 2010 and 2011 combined, for 32 local authorities in respect of 265 projects.

The relevant local authority is responsible for the procurement, planning, detailed financial management and day-to-day implementation of all aspects of the projects approved under the Scheme. Local authorities are continuing to undertake a number of the projects approved in 2010 and 2011 and are expected to commence further projects in 2012.

In addition to the specific flood relief works, the OPW will continue in 2012 with a major national initiative to systematically identify, assess, document and report on the most significant flood risks throughout the country. This work is being undertaken on the OPW's behalf by specialist consultants and is organised into six separate regional or catchment areas. These assessments, which are known as CFRAM studies, will recommend an integrated management plan and prioritised measures to address flood problems in areas where there is significant risk in each major catchment in the country.

Under the arterial drainage maintenance programme, the OPW will continue in 2012 to undertake ongoing maintenance of completed arterial drainage and flood relief schemes.