Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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302. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out the options identified by his Department in terms of State investment in flood defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8148/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Government has allocated a total of €225 million (€45 million per annum on average) over the period 2012 – 2016 for capital expenditure on flood risk management. This significant allocation, coming on top of capital expenditure of €270m in the 1996 – 2011 period, reflects the priority which is attached to addressing the problem of flood risk nationally. The multi-annual allocation will enable the Office of Public Works (OPW) to continue to progress its current flood risk management programmes including major capital flood defence schemes, minor works, and the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. In addition, the Government is also spending approximately €15 million per annum in current expenditure on an ongoing maintenance programme of completed arterial drainage and flood defence schemes. This excludes works undertaken and funded by local authorities on flood defence infrastructure under their remit.

The CFRAM Programme, examining the options for State investment in flood defences over the medium to long term and the Programme, focusing on 300 areas of potentially significant risk, lies at the core of the assessment of flood risk and the long-term planning of the flood risk management measures throughout the country, including capital structural and non-structural measures.

The CFRAM Studies are comprehensive catchment-based studies through which, following public consultation, detailed flood maps are produced and flood risk management measures are assessed and taken to outline design. These measures will be prioritised and set out in a Flood Risk Management Plan.

The CFRAM Programme will be used to determine national priorities for State investment in flood defences, on a systematic and objective basis using Multi-Criteria Analysis. More information on the Programme is available on www.cfram.ie.

Pending the completion of the CFRAM Programme, the OPW is continuing with its programme of major flood relief schemes. These schemes are focused on locations throughout the country where significant flood events have occurred in the past. Cost benefit analysis is the standard methodology used to determine priorities and for selection of major schemes. Benefits are measured in terms of the damage and loss avoided.

The identification and assessment of smaller scale flood risk problems and mitigation measures at local level within each county is a matter for the local authority concerned. It is open to local authorities to apply for funding under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme, introduced in 2009. The Scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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303. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the recent flooding in Cork City, his plans for major flood relief work in the city; when he expects this work to proceed; the funding that is in place for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8289/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Work on developing a flood relief scheme for Cork City has been underway for some time. The Scheme covers the area from Inniscarra Dam to downstream of the City on the River Lee, and it will also include proposals for Blackpool and Ballyvolane which are affected by tributaries of the River Lee.

As I announced in Cork two weeks ago, the emerging preferred Scheme will be brought before the public in a Public Information day on 29th July, 2014. The full scheme and statutory documentation will then be formally placed on Public Exhibition in December 2014 and this will run over December 2014 to January 2015 when representatives of the Design team will be in attendance on advertised days to meet with the public and deal with any queries arising. The public will have a further month to make submissions on the proposals which will be considered as the scheme moves forward. The project is overseen by a steering group consisting of officials from the OPW, the Local Authority and the design consultants for the scheme.  OPW and Cork City Council will consider how best to engage with local stakeholder groups to gather in their input, which will inform the options during the design process.

It is intended that the completion of the detailed design and the procurement of a works contractor, along with formal Statutory Confirmation of the Scheme by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, will be completed by November 2015 with the intention that works will be commenced before the end of 2015. Pending the emergence of the preferred scheme proposals in the next few months it is not possible to estimate how much the overall scheme will cost. However, the Government is fully committed to providing a flood relief scheme for Cork City as soon as possible, and to providing the necessary funding for this.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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304. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he and his officials met officials from Kerry County Council during his recent visit to County Kerry, where he inspected some of the areas affected by flooding, storm damage, high tides, coastal erosion and so on; if he will confirm the level of co-operation between the Office of Public Works and Kerry County Council in respect of the crisis; the number of meetings that have taken place and the plan of action to assist these communities and persons who have suffered greatly as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7560/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I met with many local representative and local authority officials during my visit to Kerry on the 6th and 7th of January, during which I inspected flood damaged caused by the storms. The Office of Public Works (OPW) engineering staff are liaising with Kerry County Council engineering staff on an ongoing basis in relation to the flooding issues arising from the events of the 3rd and 6th of January 2014 and again on the 1st of February 2014.

It is a matter for Kerry County Council in the first instance to investigate and address coastal protection issues generally in the county, including remedial works required on foot of damage from the recent storms.

The Office of Public Works wrote on 10th January, 2014 to City and County Managers in coastal areas indicating that it will accept applications under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for funding to assist with repairs to built flood defences and coastal protection structures which have been damaged by the recent storms. This is a once-off measure to reinstate built coastal defences to their pre storm condition. The specific application form for this entitled Coastal Storm Damage Flooding Questionnaire 2014 is again available on www.opw.ie under Flood Risk Management. The OPW will assess and respond to any applications received as quickly as possible. Any work for which funding is sought will be carried out by the Local Authorities.

It is also open to Local Authorities to carry out flood mitigation and coast protection works using their own resources.