Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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55. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which continued assessment is undertaken throughout the country, with a view to identifying areas of potential flooding which could be remedied by way of improved drainage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4047/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The problem of flood risk in Ireland is being addressed through the Office of Public Work's Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. This is a major national programme under which the most comprehensive assessment of flood risk in the country to date is being undertaken.

The purpose of the CFRAM Programme is to:

- assess and map the existing and potential significant flood hazard and risk within the study areas,

- 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.

There are three main stages in the Programme; each involving public consultation:

- Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment: The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) is a national screening exercise, based on available and readily-derivable information, to identify areas where there may be a significant risk associated with flooding. These areas are referred to as Areas for Further Assessment, or ‘AFAs’. The PFRA was completed in 2011, and 300 AFAs were identified nationally. The PFRA will be reviewed by the end of 2018 and every 6 years thereafter.

- Flood Hazard Mapping: This phase involves more detailed assessment of the AFAs to more accurately assess the extent and degree of flood risk and is undertaken through CFRAM Studies. These Studies are well underway, and detailed flood maps are currently being consulted upon locally within the AFAs through a programme of Public Consultation Days which are advertised locally. A national consultation on the flood maps will be undertaken in the Spring of 2015.

- Catchment Flood Risk Management Plans: Where the risk of flooding is significant, the CFRAM progamme develops, where possible, measures to manage and reduce the risk. Making use of the detailed assessments and flood maps, potential flood risk management measures are being assessed for the AFAs to determine viable and acceptable options for managing the flood risk within the AFAs, and such measures may include drainage works. The options will be taken to public consultation in the summer and autumn of 2015, with a view to preparing draft Flood Risk Management Plans by the end of 2015 that will set out the proposed strategies and measures for managing flood risk, and that will also be taken to consultation.

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. Details of major schemes are available on under Flood Risk Management.

The Office of Public Works continues to maintain Arterial Drainage Schemes which it carried out under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. This involves a total of 11,500 km of river channel and 800 km of embankments. The annual maintenance programme is published by OPW on its website and typically involves some clearance of vegetation and removal of silt build-up on a five-yearly cycle.

OPW has no role in relation to urban storm water drainage. This is a matter for the local authorities.

OPW has been allocated a total of €225m for Flood Risk Management for the period 2012 - 2016. This allocation will allow OPW to continue to progress its current programmes including major flood relief schemes, the Minor Works & Coastal Protection Scheme, the CFRAM Programme and Arterial Drainage Maintenance.