Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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258. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the flood risk management plans, including the eastern CFRAM, have been finalised; if they have been submitted to him for approval; the additional studies to be undertaken in respect of the further examination of flooding at Hazelhatch and Celbridge, County Kildare; when these studies will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37033/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the 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 current position is that the OPW, having reviewed and taken account of the submissions received during public and statutory consultation, has finalised three of the four Flood Risk Management Plans for the Eastern CFRAM Study area. These have been submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for independent review of the environmental assessments. The fourth Plan, is being reviewed by the OPW together with its engineering consultants and Fingal County Council, prior to submitting to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, for independent environment review in the coming weeks.

Once this independent review is completed and observations addressed, the final Plans will be formally submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for approval, in accordance with the statutory requirements for approval of the Plans.

I aim by the end of this year to seek approval from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the 29 Flood Risk Management Plans developed by the national CFRAM Programme. These Plans will inform Government’s prioritised approach to further develop over 100 major flood defence schemes and investment to those that deliver feasible protection against significant floods risks.

With regards to further flood relief studies of Hazelhatch and Celbridge, in Co. Kildare, officials from the OPW met with officials from Kildare County Council and have confirmed that resources will be available to assist Kildare County Council to take the study forward, once the Flood Risk Management Plans are approved. In the meantime, work by OPW engineers to install additional Hydrometric Gauges in the Hazelhatch and Celbridge areas have commenced and will be completed shortly. The data gathered will help inform and facilitate further studies in the area.