Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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185. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will engage with a company (details supplied) regarding cleaning, dredging and surveying of the River Shannon in conjunction with the catchment flood risk assessment and management report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16493/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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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 now being finalised following the conclusion of the national statutory public consultation process on 23rd December, 2015.

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 (FRMPs) containing specific measures that can address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risks identified along the Shannon River Basin District. The Plans will include a prioritised list of measures to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner. These draft Plans will be available for public consultation from mid 2016.

The Shannon CFRAM Study involves an assessment of the flood risks within the Shannon Catchment and the identification of potentially viable measures to address the risk in these areas. Survey work along the Shannon has already been undertaken as part of the Study. The Shannon CFRAM Study does not involve physical works, such as cleaning or dredging, although these measures may be recommended for some locations in the Plans being produced by the Study.

The procurement of any contracted services to carry out works that may be recommended in the Plans would be subject to public procurement procedures.

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