Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when flood defence construction works will advance in the upper Lee area for Inchigeelagh and Ballingeary. [26236/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Office of Public Work’s (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. Three hundred locations nationwide, designated as Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs), 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. Inchigeelagh and Ballingeary are AFAs under the Programme. Public consultation events were held at different stages of the Programme, on the draft flood maps in early Spring 2015 and on the preliminary options in Spring 2016.

From late summer 2016, the OPW further consulted with the public on the draft preferred measures to address the flood risk for each of the 300 AFAs. This included feasible defence measures for Inchigeelagh and Ballingeary to protect against the assessed risk. A Ballingeary Hydrometric Monitoring Regime was also proposed, to include the installation of hydrometric gauges on the Bunsheelin River and River Lee.

Following this public consultation, the process to finalise the Flood Risk Management Plans is nearing completion and is taking on board comments received.

A prioritised list of feasible structural measures 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.