Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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441. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be made available for a flood protection scheme (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17986/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management, CFRAM, study flood maps for Clonlara were developed in 2013-14. The flood maps were developed, making use of the information available at the time, including information on the event of November 2009, which was the most extreme on record by a significant margin. The subsequent flood event of the Winter of 2015-2016 was exceptionally severe, more extreme even than the Shannon flood of November 2009. The area had hence suffered two particularly extreme floods in recent years. Based on this and information that was collated and provided over the months after the flood, the OPW decided to undertake a review of the flood maps.

The OPW accordingly commissioned its consultants to undertake a review in the Autumn 2016. The outcome of this review has been a slight increase in the design flood levels in the lower Shannon in this area. The assessment of options in this area has therefore also been reviewed to determine if potentially viable options for flood risk management measures might be available. This work has involved re-examining the flood damages, the possible options and the economic justification for the options.

A potentially viable option for flood risk management has been found, based principally on flood defences, with some pumping required to remove rainwater falling behind the defences during times of flood. The proposed option has a standard of protection of a 1000-yr flood, a 0.1% annual exceedence probability, which is above the normal standard and so offers a very robust level of protection. The measure will protect the homes in the area that are prone to flooding, and also the road providing access to the properties that are elevated above the past flood levels such that access and egress to these properties would be maintained during times of flood once the flood protection measures are in place.

The revised maps and the proposed option for managing the flood risk in Clonlara as described above were presented to the public for consultation at a local Public Consultation Day held on Thursday 23 March. A large number of people from the community attended, with a generally positive response.

The responses and feedback from the consultation will now be reviewed by the OPW and its consultants, and a proposed measure will be set out in the final flood risk management plans. Once the plans are approved, the measures set out in the plans may be progressed through detailed design and the relevant planning and approval processes on towards construction.

The current position regarding the CFRAM Programme is that the flood risk management plans are now being finalised and this process is near completion. A prioritised list of feasible measures, both structural and non-structural, will be drawn up to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner. The plans will then be submitted for approval by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and subsequently for the adoption by the local authorities.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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442. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the development of flood relief measures and proposals in relation to individual property protection assistance to home owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18159/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group is considering the potential costs and benefits associated with the introduction of an individual property protection scheme. The Group is being informed by two different pilot projects, which are currently underway in Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh in County Kilkenny and Crossmolina in County Mayo.

In respect of the Kilkenny pilot, the OPW is funding the costs of a research and feasibility study into the potential provision of individual property protection, which is due to conclude and make recommendations in the coming weeks.

In Crossmolina, consultants have undertaken surveys of individual properties and Mayo County Council has procured a contractor who is currently installing the defences at the relevant properties.

The Co-ordination Group’s work, when completed, will be submitted to Government for consideration in the context of the proposals for the introduction by Government of any feasible assistance to support individual property protection measures.