Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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19. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will expedite a number of reports commissioned by the Office of Public Works regarding flooding in a number of areas across County Donegal, including in Ramelton, Letterkenny and Raphoe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40401/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ramelton and Letterkenny are two Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) that are being assessed under the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the purpose of which is to implement the EU Floods Directive and national flood policy. They are being assessed under the North West–Neagh Bann (NW-NB) CFRAM study. Work on this study is progressing well.

The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood risk and hazard mapping for each location. A national public consultation on the draft flood maps will commence tomorrow, 20 November and run until 23 December 2015.

The Programme also involves the development of preliminary flood risk management options and flood risk management plans. The Plans which are scheduled for completion by the end of 2016 will include a prioritised list of measures, both structural and non-structural, to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner.

Further information on the NW-NB study is available on the study website: .

In relation to assessment of flood risk in Raphoe AFA, this is being undertaken independently from the CFRAM Programme. The flood risk management options report for Raphoe is still being developed by consultants on behalf of the OPW. Public consultation on these options will be held early in 2016. Feedback received during the public consultation will then inform the relevant Flood Risk Management Plan to be prepared in 2016.