Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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327. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the scores recorded for each area across the State in which a cost benefit analysis of planned flood defence schemes has been conducted by the OPW and the relevant authorities, in tabular form; the minimum cost benefit score required to be achieved by an area in order for scheme works to be deemed viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21673/17]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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328. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps which will be taken to provide flood protection and defences in areas in which schemes have been deemed to be financially unviable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21674/17]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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329. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the parameters used and methodology employed in order to assess each flood defence scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21675/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 to 329, inclusive, together.

The core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the OPW's Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Programme is focussing on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) including 90 coastal areas, mainly in urban locations nationwide, identified as being at potentially significant risk of flooding. It is the principal vehicle for implementing the EU Floods Directive and national flood policy.

The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the Office of Public Works (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.

The OPW is finalising the Flood Risk Management Plans that will be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for his approval.

In arriving at a preferred measure, the OPW having assessed the flood risk for each area considered a wide range of flood risk management options. These ranged from non-structural methods that comprise actions typically aimed at reducing the impacts of flooding tostructural works that reduce flood flows or levels in the area at risk or that protect the area against flooding.

The OPW consulted on the possible feasible options for each AFA with the public and communities in the AFAs during the end of 2015 and the first half of 2016.

Deciding which option best addresses the flood risk for each area was decided against agreed Flood Risk Management Objectives. The Objectives are aimed at considering potential benefits and impacts across a broad range of factors including:

- Economic- costs relative to economic benefits

- Environmental and Cultural- impacts for the environment and assets and collections of cultural importance

- Social- impacts for people, the community and society

- Technical- effectiveness in managing or reducing flood risk

While each of these factors is treated equally, there are a range of objectives within each that are prioritised by their importance. These Flood Risk Management Objectives and their relative scores were developed by the OPW through separate and extensive public consultation.

Each of the possible options for each AFA (except those assessed to have a low risk) was tested and scored against these objectives to determine how well each option contributes towards meeting the defined goals.

The option that best meets the objectives was identified in the draft Flood Risk Management Plan as the preferred measure for an area and a further local and statutory consultation was completed by the OPW on these draft Plans during the second half of 2016.

While the information in relation to the costs for each measure are not available at this time, major defence schemes are only considered to protect against a 100 year flood risk and where the benefits at least equal the costs. In cases where a scheme is technically viable and has a benefit to cost ratio greater than 0.5 but less than 1, a more detailed assessment of the costs can be progressed to determine if an economically viable measure may in fact exist that could justify the progression to full project-level assessment.

The OPW operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection measures within their area. The scheme is available for projects that are estimated to cost up to €500,000 in each instance. Applications are considered in the context of specific technical, economic, social and environmental criteria. Proposals must meet a minimum benefit to cost ratio of 1.5:1 in order to qualify. Further details on the scheme are available on the OPW website, www.opw.ie.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in September 2015 announced details of a €430 million six-year programme of capital investment on flood defence measures as part of the Government’s overall Capital Investment Plan 2016 – 2021. During this time, the annual allocation for flood defence schemes will more than double to €100 million.

The flood protection capital programme 2016 – 2021 will build on the very significant investment that has already been undertaken in flood relief works throughout the country over the last 20 years. It will provide the means to provide feasible protection to homes and businesses in major urban areas together with investment in many minor works projects to address more localised flooding problems.