Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

20. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the River Erne is being considered for flood relief funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2268/18]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 Erne Catchment is being assessed under the Office of Public Work’s in close co-operation with the Rivers section in the Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland. This co-operation is part of our respective implementation of the EU Floods Directive and therefore the Erne Catchment in both Ireland and Northern Ireland has been fully assessed as part of the CFRAM Study.

In relation to the Erne Catchment system, CFRAM’s Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) study, carried out in 2011, identified Cavan Town and Ballyconnell in Co. Cavan and Ballybay in Co. Monaghan as Areas of Further Assessment (AFA) and are being assessed as part of the North Western-Neagh Bann CFRAM Study. This included public consultation events held in Spring 2015 on the draft flood maps, Spring 2016 on the preliminary options and Autumn 2016 on the draft plans.

In Cavan Town and Ballybay structural options are proposed in the draft Flood Risk Management Plan; and Ballyconnell has been assessed to have a very low level of flood risk. The Plans also set out other flood risk measures to address the flood risk in the River Erne catchment.

The 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 in the coming weeks 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.