Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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360. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions which have been taken to date to prevent future flooding episodes in the mid-Shannon region. [26893/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is delivering a multi-annual programme of capital investment in flood defence measures, with €430 million provided for in the Capital Investment Plan 2016 to 2021. Since 2009, a number of major flood defence schemes have been completed in the Shannon catchment area including Ennis Upper and Derrymullen, Ballinasloe. Further schemes are currently underway at Kings Island in Limerick, Foynes, Ennis Lower and Ennis South.

The OPW and Westmeath County Council are working together to advance proposals to deal with the flooding issues in Athlone. OPW has agreed to fund the costs of flood relief works for the town and the Council has appointed consultants to develop and bring forward proposals for several areas of the town which are affected by flooding. The Council hope to progress some of the works in the areas of the Quay, Iona Villas and Golden Island through the Part 8 planning process shortly with possible commencement of construction before the end of the year and to progress the other elements of the works through a Part 10 planning process later in the year with construction in 2018.

The Council also carried out some advance remedial works in the town towards the end of 2016 in the Canal Walk and Griffith Street areas with funding being provided by OPW.

The OPW introduced the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme in 2009, following the flood events experienced in many parts of the country. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

The attached Table 1 sets out the number of projects approved each year since 2009 for each Local Authority for whom part of their administrative area lies within the Shannon Catchment area.

The core strategy for addressing the significant flood risks along the River Shannon is the OPW’s Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. Of the 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) nationwide, there are 66 in the Shannon River Basin District that have been assessed within the Shannon CFRAM study. These are listed in Table 2 attached.

Feasible flood relief structural measures have been identified to provide protection to almost all properties at assessed significant risk from flooding in these AFAs. Following a public consultation process, the Flood Risk Management Plans are now being finalised, taking on board the observations received.

In January 2016, the Government took decisive action to support the existing plans in place to address flooding on the Shannon and established the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group to enhance ongoing co-operation of all State agencies involved with the River Shannon and to add value to the CFRAM Programme.

The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group has taken the decision to develop a plan for strategic maintenance works on the River Shannon that will complement the Group’s Work Programme and the specific measures that are identified for the areas at risk in the CFRAM Draft Shannon Flood Risk Management Plan. The Group has established a sub-committee to address all of the necessary legal, environmental, technical and other considerations that arise in bringing forward both short term and long term proposals that can benefit flood risk management.

The Group has now agreed to the delivery of targeted maintenance activities to be carried out in a range of locations this year in accordance with the permitted seasonal windows for such activities.

The Group has also endorsed the commencement of a specific project to identify viable flood risk reduction measures in the Shannon Callows. Building on initial assessments undertaken as part of the Shannon CFRAM study, the OPW are leading on the project, in conjunction with Waterways Ireland, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The project is to include more detailed assessment of the possible removal of identified constrictions or "pinch points" upstream of Meelick Weir.

Table 1

Approved Projects under Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme in the Shannon Catchment 2009 to 2017 (to end April)

Further details on all projects approved under the Scheme can be found on the OPW website:

Table 2

Areas of Further Assessment (AFAs) in the Shannon CFRAM Study