Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action the Office of Public Works will take following the serious flooding in County Donegal over the weekend and the recommendations it has provided to Donegal County Council to date, and if he will expedite a number of reports on flooding that have already been commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44680/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The core strategy for addressing the significant areas at significant risk and impact from flooding in Donegal, is the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. Donegal has 27 locations among the 300 locations nationwide that are being assessed under the Programme the purpose of which is to implement the EU Floods Directive and national flood policy.

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 mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans.

Twenty-six of the Donegal areas are being progressed under the North West – Neagh Bann Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) study, with Raphoe being progressed separately. The study is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW, working in partnership with the local authorities.

A national public consultation on the draft flood maps is currently on-going until 23 December 2015. Details are available at the local authority offices at County House, Lifford and Letterkenny Public Services Centre, Neil T Blaney Road, Letterkenny and on the consultation website .

The Programme involves the development of preliminary flood risk management options and flood risk management plans. In relation to assessment of flood risk in Raphoe, the flood risk management options report is nearing completion 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 for consultation and completion by the end of 2016.

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 is available on the study website: .

Investigation of flooding, in the first instance, is a matter for each local authority to investigate and address. Donegal County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources. The Council may also apply to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for funding of flood mitigation works under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor works to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost no more than €500,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, with the balance being funded by the local authority concerned. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management. Details are published on the OPW website www.opw.ie.