Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Flood Relief Schemes

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for flood relief measures in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1920/16]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government has allocated €80.746 m in 2016 for the Office of Public Works (OPW) overall Flood Risk Management Programme of which €52.561m is for the continued implementation of the OPW's comprehensive programme of capital flood relief works. There are currently five major schemes at construction in Bray, Co Wicklow, River Dodder, Dublin, South Campshires, Dublin, Ennis Lower, Ennis and Phases 2, 3 and 4 in Waterford City. There are a further 26 schemes at design and planning stage and, of these, it is anticipated that construction works on schemes in Claregalway, Co Galway, Bandon and Skibbereen, Co Cork, Templemore, Co Tipperary and Foynes, Co Limerick will be commenced this year.

Other schemes in the capital works programme will be advanced through the planning or Confirmation (Ministerial approval) processes and every effort will be made to progress some of these schemes to construction in 2016 also.

The OPW will also continue in 2016 to administer its Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme which allows local authorities to submit applications for funding to OPW for localised projects costing under €0.5m and which meet required criteria including a minimum cost benefit standard.

In addition to its capital allocation another €15.3m in non-capital funding has been allocated to the OPW in 2016 for its ongoing arterial drainage maintenance works programme under which over 2,000km of river channels and watercourse which OPW is responsible for will be cleaned and maintained.

The OPW's flood relief funding allocation will also allow it to continue in 2016 with its essential hydrometric data gathering and analysis work and other important research and studies in hydrology, coastal and other flood related matters.

The funding available in 2016 will allow the OPW continue to plan for the future flood risk management needs of the country through its comprehensive Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. Under that Programme the OPW will publish by mid 2016 draft Flood Risk Management Plans for areas across the country that are at significant risk of flooding from rivers and tides. Most of the areas that flooded during the recent severe rainfall events will be covered under the CFRAM Plans.XX Following public consultation, the CFRAM Plans will be finalised by end 2016. The Plans will include a prioritised list of measures, both structural and non-structural, to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner which OPW will seek to implement over a 10 year timeframe.

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