Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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69. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if additional drainage schemes will be put in place in counties Laois and Offaly in view of recent floods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52446/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for maintaining Arterial Drainage schemes completed under the 1945 Arterial drainage Act. The Boyne and Brosna Arterial Drainage Catchments contain scheme channels in Counties Laois and Offaly. In 2017, 98km of river channel was maintained in Offaly and 15km of river channel was maintained in Laois. The 2018 Boyne and Brosna maintenance programme will include 127km of river channel in Offaly and 3km of river channel in Laois.

Separately, Local Authorities are responsible for the maintenance of Drainage Districts in their area. I am engaging with the Minister of Housing, Planning and Local Government to examine the funding available for Local Authorities to fulfil these obligations.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if additional flood defences will be put in place in the midlands as a result of recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52447/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. This Programme is focussing on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs), mainly in urban locations nationwide, identified as being at potentially significant risk of flooding. Seven AFAs were identified in County Laois, five were identified in County Longford, nine were identified in County Offaly and three were identified in County Westmeath.

Feasible flood risk measures, both structural and non-structural, were identified in draft flood risk management plans which were the subject of public consultation in 2016. The final Plans are currently undergoing an independent review of the environmental assessments by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

I would hope early in 2018, to seek the approval from the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for the 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 be taken, through a prioritised approach over the coming years, to detailed design to protect those communities at assessed risk.