Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to hold a meeting between all stakeholders, including concerned residents, connected to the River Shannon flood problems; the proposed date and location for same; and if it will occur after the catchment flood risk assessment and management report has issued. [8815/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The core strategy for addressing the significant flood risks nationally, and in the Shannon River Basin District generally, is the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. There are 66 locations in the Shannon River Basin District and 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. The draft maps are being finalised following the conclusion of the national statutory public consultation process on 23rd December, 2015. This statutory consultation followed 64 Public Consultation Days on the Draft Flood Maps for the Shannon region that were held between 23October, 2013 and 15April 2015.

In addition, 55 Public Consultation Days on preliminary options to manage flood risk on the Shannon Catchment were held between 30September 2015 and 11February 2016.

Following the finalisation of the flood mapping and the identification of preliminary 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 risks identified in the Shannon River Basin District. The CFRAM Programme will be used to determine national priorities for future State investment in flood defences.

In addition to the CFRAM, the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group which was established to enhance on-going co-operation across all of the State Agencies involved with the River Shannon has conducted an audit of the roles and responsibilities of State Agency organisations and has published its Shannon Flood Risk Work Programme for 2016, which is available from the OPW website, www.opw.ie. The Group is holding the first of three public Open Days in the Athlone Civic Buildings on Thursday 5 May 2016.