Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has access to or sight of a national hydrological study with a view to identification of the most sensitive and seriously affected areas of flooding over the past number of years with a view to prevention in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18777/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In September 2004, Government approved a national flood risk policy which assigned OPW the lead role for flood risk management and mitigation. The OPW’s Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme is the principal vehicle for implementing the Government’s 2004 national policy on flood risk management. The CFRAM Programme will in mid-2016 publish, for public consultation, 29 draft Flood Risk Management Plans that will provide recommended solutions of both a structural and non-structural nature, through 29 Flood Risk Management Plans, to proactively manage flood risk in those areas at significant risk from fluvial and coastal flooding. The Plans are scheduled to be finalised at the end of 2016.

The OPW Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group, established to support the CFRAM Programme, was reconvened in July 2015. The purpose of the Co-ordination Group is to have regard to the extent of non-structural solutions that will inform the ten year implementation strategy of the Flood Risk Management Plans and to ensure that policies that can benefit communities and individuals directly - to be prepared and respond to or live with flood risk - are carefully considered. The Co-ordination Group is to report to Government with its costed recommendations to support a smooth implementation of the Flood Risk Management Plans.

My Department is represented on the Co-ordination Group and has work closely with the OPW on the generation of their Final Report to Government, providing input on a number of policy initiatives under consideration. The Final Report from the Group is being progressed to align with the development of draft Flood Risk Management Plans.