Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 to 396, inclusive, together.

The River Erne and Dromore River do not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which would fall under the remit of the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. The OPW therefore has no responsibility for maintenance, nor any authority to carry out any works there.

Local flooding issues are, in the first instance, a matter for each local authority to investigate and address, and they may carry out flood alleviation works from their own resources. Local Authorities may also apply to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for funding of flood mitigation works under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor works to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management. Details are published on the OPW website www.opw.ie.

The core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding, is the OPW's Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. 300 locations nationwide are being assessed under the Programme. 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.

In relation to the River Erne system, Cavan Town; and in relation to the Dromore River system, Ballybay are Areas of Further Assessment (AFA) being assessed as part of the North Western-Neagh Bann CFRAM Study, one of six study areas.

The draft flood mapping is now being finalised, work on the development of preliminary options to address flood risk is significantly advanced leading to the development of integrated Flood Risk Management Plans containing specific measures that can address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risks identified. The OPW works in close co-operation with the Rivers Agency of Northern Ireland on the North Western-Neagh Bann CFRAM Study.

A public consultation day was held in Cavan Town on the draft flood mapping on 19th February, 2015 and a further event was held on 17th February, 2016 on the preliminary options.

A Public Consultation Day was held in Ballybay on the draft flood mapping on 18th February, 2015 and a further event was held on 15th February, 2016 in relation to the preliminary options.

In addition, a national statutory public consultation on draft flood maps concluded on 23rd December, 2015.

The draft Plans are being made available for Statutory Public Consultation on a rolling basis from Friday 15th July, 2016. The draft Plans for the North Western-Neagh Bann River Basin District will be available in the second phase of the roll out, scheduled to commence in August 2016. This public consultation will run for ten weeks. 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 will be available at the principal offices of each local authority.

Following this 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, that can address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner. The Plans, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016, will be sent to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for his approval.

The Government recently announced increased levels of annual investment to €100m for flood relief as part of the overall Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021.