Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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230. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that areas in Midleton that have had serious flooding in recent years and are at risk of flooding again have been granted planning permission for housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28347/16]

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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231. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Cork County Council has ignored the recommendations of the CFRAM study from 2013 that advised on measures to address flood risk in the Midleton area, in particular for a street (details supplied) that was subsequently flooded, leaving homes completely uninhabitable. [28348/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together.

The 2010 Lee CFRAMs (Catchment Flood Risk Management Plan) is the most recent CFRAM study incorporating the Midleton area and is available for download at www.lee.cfram.com.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) recently initiated a new CFRAM (South Western) Study which incorporates the Midleton area and this is currently at consultation stage.  As the Deputy will be aware the objective of a CFRAMS is to identify areas which are at risk from flooding, to evaluate the level of risk and map the risk assessments. CFRAMS data are used to measure risk and inform future decisions about the use of lands.  A CFRAM study does not address or recommend measures to mitigate risk.

The OPW is also the National Agency with responsibility for flood protection in Ireland, and has recently approved a flood relief scheme for Midleton.  The scheme is complex and challenging as the design solution must address a range of Pluvial, Fluvial, Groundwater and Tidal flooding issues.

Cork County Council was appointed as project lead for the scheme when funding was approved on 27 May 2016.  The Council immediately initiated the preparation of tender documentation to procure professional and technical supports for the design and delivery of the project.  Consultancy Tenders were advertised on 8 July 2016 and tenders are  due by 10/10/16.Cork County Council is acting to appoint consultants and initiate Stage I (Scheme Development) by early 2017.

In this context there is no evidence that Cork County Council has ignored the recommendation of the CFRAM study in respect of planning decisions. In relation to the locations mentioned by the Deputy:

Tír Cluain:

Planning permission was granted for 237 houses in 2005 prior to the availability of flood maps for the town and prior to the publication of the Guidelines on The Planning System and Flood Risk Management (published in 2009). An application to extend the duration of the permission was granted under S42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). In determining the extension of duration application, it was deemed that substantial works had been carried out (a total of 162 units had been constructed), which, in accordance with the legislation, precluded any assessment of flood risk arising from the development.

In 2014, planning permission was granted for revisions to the originally permitted development. This arose from a Site Resolution Plan for the estate and consolidates the layout (revised boundary treatment, landscaping, etc) but does not authorise additional dwelling units.

Midleton Town Parks:

This area covers much of central Midleton. There are no recent housing planning permissions granted here.

Lauriston and Bannog:

These are established housing estates which predate the CFRAM study and flood maps. No recent planning permissions for new housing developments have been granted at these locations.