Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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82. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Office of Public Works has deemed a portion of land (details supplied), in County Cork, to be a flood plain; if this adjudication could be reviewed in view of the fact that this land has never been the subject of, or at risk to, flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8502/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently undertaking, in partnership with its consultants, local authorities and other stakeholders, the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. 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. The CFRAM Programme is the principal vehicle for implementing national policy on flood risk management and the European Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risk (2007/EC/60). Further information is available on the Programme website www.cfram.ie.

In brief, the CFRAM Programme has three principal milestones:

- Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (completed)

- Flood Maps (for finalisation 2015)

- Flood Risk Management Plans (for finalisation 2016)

This national programme of CFRAM Studies, which is being carried out by several engineering consultancies over six regions, is focused on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (or “AFAs”). The designated AFAs were selected following the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) phase which involved public consultation including the public exhibition of consultation documentation in Cork Co. Council (and all other City and County Councils) in Autumn 2011. Arising from the PFRA, the town of Dunmanway has been designated as one of the AFAs and is being assessed under the South Western CFRAM Study.

Predictive flood mapping has been produced by engineering consultants based on extensive survey data and watercourse modelling. A Public Consultation Day on the draft flood maps was held in Dunmanway on 10th February last. The draft flood maps for Dunmanway are currently available for inspection on the Study website www.southwestcframstudy.ie and members of the public may provide feedback on same. A national statutory consultation is due to be held in early summer.

All feedback received during the draft flood maps consultation period will form part of the process of finalisation of the flood maps. It is important to emphasise that flood risk areas within Dunmanway will not be formally identified by the South Western CFRAM Study until the flood maps are finalised later in 2015.

Following the finalisation of the flood mapping and the assessment of appropriate flood risk management options, the final output from this important project will be integrated Flood Risk Management Plans containing specific measures to address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risk identified. The CFRAM Programme will be used to determine national priorities for future State investment in flood defences.