Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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282. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which ongoing action is planned in respect of areas that have previously suffered from flooding, coastal erosion or damage from storms and floods with particular reference to the need to carry out a proper drainage assessment with a view to the use of adequate drainage in line with adequate river and waterway maintenance requirement thereby eliminating the potential for such flooding in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26155/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the OPW is currently undertaking a comprehensive programme of assessment for all national river catchments through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme is being delivered through the CFRAM Studies. Further details on this Programme are available at www.cfram.ie. The CFRAM Programme is designed to assess and map the country's river systems to identify areas at risk of significant flooding and to examine options for the sustainable management of the flood risk. The Programme will:

- produce detailed flood mapping in order to identify and map the existing and potential future flood hazard and risk areas within the study area,

- build the strategic information base necessary for making informed decisions in relation to managing flood risk,

- identify viable structural and non-structural measures and options for managing the flood risks for localised high-risk areas and within each river catchment as a whole.

This will include appropriate river maintenance measures.

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. Spending on major flood relief schemes and minor works during the period 2009-2013, inclusive, amounted to €171 million. Further details are available on www.opw.ie under Flood Risk Management. In addition to the programme of investment in major flood relief schemes, the OPW also provides funding to local authorities to carry out minor works to address more localised flooding problems throughout the country.

It is open to local authorities also to undertake flood mitigation works using their own resources. The investigation of localised flooding problems is a matter for local authorities in the first instance. It is open to local authorities to submit an application for funding for mitigation measures under the Office of Public Works' Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the eligibility criteria, which include a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding. The Scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

Where a drainage scheme is carried out under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, the OPW has responsibility for maintenance of the completed scheme. The average cycle of maintenance takes place once every five years. This work is carried out to ensure that the State's investment in the Arterial Drainage schemes continues to provide the intended benefits. The total allocation for drainage maintenance for 2014 is €14.8 million. It should be noted that there are many other rivers and watercourses for which the OPW does not have any maintenance responsibility. Local Authorities have statutory responsibility for maintenance of rivers and watercourses which form part of Drainage Districts. For other watercourses falling outside of the OPW and Local Authority areas of responsibility, private landowners generally have responsibility for the maintenance of these.

The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to allocate total funding of up to €69.5 million for repair of public infrastructure and facilities damaged by the severe weather events in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 based on estimates of costs provided by Local Authorities to the Department of the Environment Community and Local Government (DoECLG). This allocation included up to €19.6 million for repairs of existing coastal protection and flood defences, to be provided through the Vote of the OPW.