Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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280. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will establish dedicated task forces comprising of multiple agencies and bodies to be responsible for co-ordinating flood protection plans along rivers located within each of the current designated flood risk catchment areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1393/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In line with government policy, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is in the process of undertaking the Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme to give a clear and comprehensive picture of flood risk in areas at significant risk of flooding and to set out how the risk can be prioritised and managed effectively and sustainably.

Engineering consultants have been appointed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to implement the Programme, through six regional studies. Local authorities and a wide range of other statutory and other stakeholders are involved, in partnership with the OPW, on Steering Groups and Progress Groups across the six study areas. These structures are providing the requisite co-ordination for the development of the Flood Risk Management Plans.

One of the CFRAM Study areas is the River Shannon catchment and the Government has announced the establishment of a River Shannon Co-ordination Group. The terms of reference for this Group are to be announced shortly.

The CFRAM programme 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 significant flooding risks.

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 and designated 300 areas at significant risk and impact from flooding

- Flood Maps, including their impact

- public consultation completed in December 2015 and to be finalised in early 2016)

- Flood Risk Management Plans

- draft Plans available in summer 2016, for public consultation and to be finalised at the end of 2016.