Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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262. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to address the flooding issue in Ahascragh in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30260/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As previously outlined to the Deputy in the reply to Parliamentary Question 38476 of 8 October 2014, the Ahascragh River forms part of the Ahascragh River Drainage District and, as such, the responsibility for maintenance rests with the relevant local authority, in this case Galway County Council. Under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, as amended, all local authorities are required to provide to the Office of Public Works an annual report in respect of the condition of the Drainage Districts within their care. The most recent report submitted by Galway County Council covers the year ended 31st December, 2013 and shows that the Council expended €15,000 on maintaining the district.

A national programme of Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Studies, which is being carried out by several engineering consultancies over six regions, is focused on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs). The designated AFAs were selected following the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) phase in 2011. Arising from the PFRA, Ahascragh has been designated as one of the AFAs and is being assessed under the Shannon CFRAM Study which OPW is currently undertaking in partnership with the relevant local authorities including Galway County Council.

Under the CFRAM Study, draft predictive flood mapping has been produced for Ahascragh. A Public Consultation Day on the draft flood maps was held in Ahascragh on 26 February 2015. The draft flood maps are currently available for inspection on the Shannon CFRAM Study website www.shannoncframstudy.ie. A national consultation process on the draft flood mapping is scheduled to take place in the autumn. 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.