Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress being made in advancing flood defences in the Upper Lee catchment area. [21884/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Lee Flood Risk Management Plan, developed under the Lee Pilot Study and finalised in 2014, made a number of recommendations specific to the Upper Lee (upstream of Inniscarra Dam). The preferred option for the design of the Ballymakeera scheme is being finalised. Design options for the Crookstown scheme are being reviewed.

A review of the measures for Macroom set out in the Lee CFRAM study is being undertaken currently by the OPW. This involves a more detailed assessment of the costs of such measures with a view to determining if an economically viable measure may in fact exist that could justify the progression of the measures to full project-level assessment.

The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme made a number of additional recommendations in relation to the Upper Lee catchment. This is the core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding. It is focussing on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) including 90 coastal areas. It is the principal vehicle for implementing the EU Floods Directive and national flood policy.

Inchigeelagh and Ballingeary are included in the areas identified as Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) under the Programme.

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 then be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for his approval.

Funding of €45,000 was approved in 2016 for projects in the Upper Lee area of County Cork under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme. Approval details from 2009-2017 are available on the website at www.opw.ie/en/floodriskmanagement/operations/minorfloodworks.

As part of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, a flood forecasting system is being developed in the Upper Lee catchment to inform flows into the Carrigadrohid and Inniscarra Reservoirs.