Written answers

Tuesday, 19 July 2016

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Flood Risk Management

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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518. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on the development of the CFRAM flood risk management plans; the timeframe for their completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22560/16]

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 300 locations nationwide (Areas for Further Assessment or AFAs), the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans. The CFRAM flood risk and hazard mapping is 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 preliminary 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 being made available for public consultation on a rolling basis from Friday 15th July, 2016. The draft Plans for the Shannon and South Western River Basin Districts will be available first, from two of the six CFRAM study areas. This public consultation will run for ten weeks until Friday 23rd September 2016. Further details are available on the dedicated consultation website www.opw.ie/FloodPlans. Copies of the draft Plans, related Environmental Assessments and an information leaflet are also available at the principal offices of each local authority. Observations or comments must be made directly in writing to the Office of Public Works (OPW) or via the email address .

Following the public consultation process, the draft Plans will be finalised taking on board the comments received. 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 Plans, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016, will then be sent to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform who may approve the Plans, refuse to approve them, or refer the Plans back to the Commissioners for revision. If approved by the Minister, they will be sent to the local authorities who will have three months to consider and examine them. The councils may decide to adopt them or otherwise.

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.

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