Written answers

Wednesday, 1 June 2016

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Flood Risk Assessments

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a number of reports commissioned on flooding in County Donegal following the completion of the public consultations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13936/16]

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The draft Flood Risk Management Plans being produced under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme will be published from mid-2016 for public consultation. The Preliminary Options reports are currently in draft format and are under review following the most recent round of public consultation events. The Final Preliminary Options Reports will be published at the same time as the draft Plans as reference documents.

In relation to assessment of flood risk in Raphoe AFA (Area for Further Assessment), this is being undertaken independently from the CFRAM Programme. The flood risk management options report for Raphoe is currently being finalised.

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for implementing a catchment flood risk assessment and management report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13939/16]

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Good progress is being made on the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW) working in partnership with the local authorities. The Programme involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each Area for Further Assessment (AFA), the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans.

The draft flood mapping is now being finalised following completion of the national statutory public consultation on 23 December, 2015. Work on the development of preliminary options to address flood risk is underway. Following finalisation of the mapping and the identification of 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. The draft Plans are scheduled to be made available for public consultation from mid-2016. Following the public consultation process the finalised 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.

The Government announced increased levels of investment in the area of flood relief, as part of the overall Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021, which will allow for consideration of measures arising from the Flood Risk Management Plans.

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