David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

511. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times the flood management policy interdepartmental co-ordination group met in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date; the reports it has made to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22303/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Inter-Departmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group did not meet between 2010 and 2014.

In July 2015 the Group was reconvened as the National CFRAM Programme approached the stage of preparation of Flood Risk Management Plans, which would in turn require the consideration of whole-of-Government responses to flood risk.

The Group met on 3 occasions in 2015 and presented an interim report to Government in January of this year. The Group held 2 further meetings in 2016 to date and is currently working on the preparation of a final report with recommendations which I expect to receive shortly. I will bring this report to Government for its consideration as soon as possible.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

512. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times the national catchment flood risk assessment and management programme steering group has met in the years since it was created to date, broken down by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22304/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National CFRAM Steering Group was set up to co-ordinate the implementation of the National CFRAM Programme, and for the relevant Departments and other key stakeholders to provide input to, and be informed of, the progress and direction of the Programme. The Group was established in May 2009 and met on six occasions up to November 2010, three times in 2009, and then three times in 2010.

During this period, the Group provided input into:

- The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA)

- The preparation of the CFRAM Brief

- The preparation of the Statutory Instrument to transpose the EU 'Floods' Directive

By the end of 2010:

- The PFRA was largely complete

- The Generic CFRAM Brief had issued for tender, and the first of the Contract Specific Briefs had been prepared and issued for tender

- The SI was finalised and the EU 'Floods' Directive had been transposed into Irish Law

In this regard, the core elements of the National CFRAM Programme had been set by the end of 2010, and so the Group had largely met its initial objectives in terms of setting the direction of the National CFRAM Programme.

The ongoing implementation of the CFRAM Programme after appointment of the consultants involved significant survey work and technical analysis, such as hydrological analysis and hydraulic modelling. This work was being co-ordinated and overseen by the Steering (Advisory) and Progress Groups at the Project level.

No. of Project-Level Steering and Progress Group Meetings Held

(From Project Initiation to the Date of Publication of the C&AG Report - April 2016)

Note a:The NW-NB Steering Group decided to merge with the Progress Group due to the degree of overlap in membership.

The National CFRAM Steering Group was reconvened in November 2014 when the draft maps were being prepared for public consultation. A further meeting took place in 2016 prior to the consultation on the Flood Risk Management Plans.

It might also be noted that numerous bi- or trilateral meetings have been held throughout the period of the National CFRAM Programme to ensure co-ordination on specific issues. Such meetings would have been held with DECLG, the EPA, ESB and Waterways Ireland. Meetings have also been held regularly with the Rivers Agency of Northern Ireland to ensure co-ordination in cross-border catchments.

It is acknowledged that it should have been formally recorded that the Group was to go into recess after 2010. However, it is considered by the OPW that:

- The Group did largely perform the function and meet the objectives defined in the Outline Implementation Plan in relation to setting the direction of the National CFRAM Programme

- There was effective coordination and over-sight of the implementation of the National CFRAM Programme through the Project-level Steering and Stakeholder Group meetings, and through bi- and trilateral meetings on specific aspects of the Programme.