Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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235. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any study has been undertaken into the extent to which arable farmland has become flooded on an annual basis over the past ten years; the river catchment areas to which this relates; the extent of drainage and river cleaning carried out at these locations over this period; if most rivers have not been cleaned in the past fifty years; the exceptions and if there are any particular plans in hand to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6863/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works has not undertaken any specific study into the extent to which arable farmland has become flooded over the past ten years.

The Office of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 and also of flood defence schemes completed and/or under construction. This includes maintenance of 11,500 km of channels and 750 km of flood defence embankments as well as all structures, sluices, pump stations, bridges, etc. forming part of the schemes, which benefit over 260,000 hectares of farmlands across the country.

The OPW is currently undertaking the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study (CFRAM) Programme, working in partnership with its consultants, local authorities and other stakeholders. This is a strategic approach that recognises the need, in line with international best practice, to move to a more sustainable, planned and risk-based approach to dealing with flooding problems. Six studies are being undertaken to cover the River Basin Districts. The studies are concentrating on 300 areas where the risk is considered to be most significant. These areas are known as Areas for Further Assessment or AFAs. More information is available on the Programme website .'

I recognise that a particular issue of farmland flooding exists in the Shannon Callows. As part of the CFRAM programme, the River Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) project is the core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon Basin. The Shannon CFRAM involves an extensive surveying and modelling exercise which is underway at present and it will look at all options for dealing with areas of significant flood risk. The objective of this exercise is to ensure that all flood risk factors are identified and managed in a coordinated way. At the end of the CFRAM process, a flood risk management plan will be available for the Shannon catchment and for each of the other five catchments covered by the CFRAM programme. These management plans will set out the analysis of the flood risk on the relevant catchment and recommended options for managing that risk.

In advance of the completion of the CFRAM work, I can assure the Deputy that it is my intention that constructive dialogue continues with all the main stakeholders. The engagement arising from this dialogue forms a valuable contribution to the stakeholder and information-gathering aspects of the CFRAM Study.