Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when funding will be available for flood defence measures for south Louth and Drogheda to upgrade coastal flood defence measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49405/17]

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.

Seven Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) have been identified in County Louth as follows: Baltray, Annagassan, Ardee, Dundalk & Blackrock South, Carlingford & Greenore, Termonfeckin and Drogheda. The feasible measures both structural and non-structural identified for these AFAs are contained in the final plans for the East and North Western – Neagh Bann CFRAM studies.

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, I would hope by the end of this year to seek the approval from the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for the 29 Flood Risk Management Plans developed under the CFRAM process. Thereafter, I would hope to announce the proposed structural measures contained within those Plans that will, over the coming years, be taken to detailed design to protect those communities at assessed risk.

Louth County Council has undertaken a number of flood relief works with funding approved by the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. These include flood relief projects at Rampark, Lordship and Baltray. The coastal flood relief scheme at Bellurgan is expected to be completed in the second quarter 2018.