Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if flood prevention funding for Killybegs which was requested through the catchments flooding risk assessment will be approved; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if funding had been approved the recent flooding of the Bridge sStreet district could have been avoided; when these works will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43070/17]

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 catchment area referred to is part of the North Western – Neagh Bann (NW-NB) CFRAM Study.

There has been extensive public consultation and people’s observations are helping to finalise the Flood Risk Management Plans for Killybegs. Consultation on the maps took place in March 2015, with a further consultation on the options in March 2016 and consultation on the draft plans in October 2016.

Subject to approval, the preferred measure for Killybegs consists of a series of floodwalls and road raising. These hard defences will provide a Standard of Protection of 1% AEP* for fluvial flood events and 0.5% for coastal flood events, at a total length of 1.3km and an average height of 1m. This option will provide protection to approximately 24 properties at risk of fluvial flooding, 40 properties at risk of coastal flooding and 5 properties at risk of wave overtopping, includes Bridge Street. The Killybegs Flood Relief Scheme will be subject to project-level public consultation and assessment before proceeding.

These final Plans are currently undergoing an independent review of the strategic level environmental assessments by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Once this independent review of all Plans 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.

I would hope by the end of this year to seek approval for the final Plans developed under the CFRAM process and thereafter to announce the proposed structural measures contained within those Plans that will protect communities and properties assessed.

Following our conversation in recent days, and as part of my upcoming visit to Donegal,  I would be happy to see the above areas for myself.

*AEP (Annual Exceedance Probability)

The probability, typically expressed as a percentage, of a flood event of a given magnitude being equalled or exceeded in any given year. For example, a 1% AEP flood event has a 1%, or 1 in a 100, chance of occurring or being exceeded in any given year.