Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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156. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the direct supports available to residents in an area that has a history of flooding but for which there is no flood prevention plan to assist them in protecting their houses in the event of another flood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21548/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently undertaking the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme throughout the country. The Programme involves an assessment of 300 locations nationwide including 90 coastal locations, the mapping of potentially significant flood risk areas and the production of flood risk management options and plans. These draft Flood Risk Management Plans are being published from 15th July 2016 for public consultation and should be finalised by the end of 2016.

In the context of the CFRAM Programme, the Government announced two pilot Individual Property Protection (IPP) projects on 5th January 2015. These are community based pilots to inform consideration of a possible mechanism to deliver IPP, as part of a community based approach or scheme and also the potential costs and benefits attached to IPP for areas where a flood defence scheme is not likely to be completed for some time.

These pilots are:

- a feasibility study in Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh, where Kilkenny County Council has procured consultants to carry out the study. The consultants will survey each property to establish potential and appropriate IPP options for the community. This study is being carried out separately to but in parallel with the CFRAM process under which the assessment of all possible feasible flood defence options for these towns is ongoing, and

- the potential viability of a scheme for the installation of flood gates for some properties, identified by the community in Crossmolina, as an interim measure to help mitigate any further flood damage pending the completion of the defence scheme for the town is being considered by Mayo County Council (MCC) and the OPW. The two bodies are working together to progress this as quickly as possible. MCC has carried out a survey of households in the town and has received expressions of interest from 60 homeowners for the installation of flood gates. The OPW hopes to appoint consultants shortly to carry out surveys of individual properties to determine their suitability for flood gates.

The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group is considering the potential costs and benefits associated with any targeted individual property protection scheme that could benefit more isolated properties, as distinct from the community based approach being piloted.

Evaluation of these pilots and the work by the Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group will, in due course, inform Government of the merits of any possible targeted direct support or grant scheme for flood relief and prevention measures for households and businesses.