Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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217. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW has plans to address the yearly flooding issues of the Owenmore river in Collooney in County Sligo, in accordance with the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5282/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Irish Government’s core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding, is the Office of Public Work’s Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. 300 locations nationwide are being assessed under the Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities.

CFRAM’s Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) study, carried out in 2011, identified Collooney, Co. Sligo as an Areas of Further Assessment (AFA) and it is being assessed as part of the Western CFRAM Study. Collooney AFA has been modelled, mapped and assessed for options to manage flood risk. Public consultation events were held in Spring 2015 on the draft flood maps, in Spring 2016 on the preliminary options and Autumn 2016 on the draft plans. Sligo County Council were involved and participated in both the Progress and Advisory Group meetings for the Western CFRAM Study.

The CFRAM draft plan identified Collooney AFA as being at low risk of flooding but identified the need for the local authority, who have a statutory responsibility under the Owenmore Drainage District, to continue the maintenance of the drainage channels within that district.

The OPW carries out its own programme of Arterial Drainage Maintenance to a total of 11,500km of river channel and approximately 730km of embankments nationally. These maintenance works relate to arterial drainage schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945, whose purpose was primarily to improve the drainage of agricultural lands. The OPW has a statutory duty to maintain the completed schemes in proper repair and in an effective condition. The annual maintenance programme typically involves some clearance of vegetation and removal of silt build-up on an average five-yearly cycle.

For areas not covered by the Arterial Drainage Maintenance Programme, the Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. It is open to all Local Authorities to submit a funding application under the Scheme. This administrative Scheme’s eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management. There is currently no application for minor works for the Collooney area by Sligo County Council.

In addition to the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, and as part of the whole of Government approach to flood risk management, the Office of Public Works is working with other key stakeholders to compile a Riparian Owners Guidance Booklet. It is envisaged that this Guidance Booklet will outline what maintenance works Riparian owners, including farmers and small land owners, can and cannot undertake on watercourses that run through or alongside their land.