Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

167. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects the final plans of the draft flood risk management programme for at-risk areas to be approved, implemented and adopted by local authorities; if the Carysfort and Maretimo works are one of the at-risk areas included in this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8784/18]

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 CFRAM Programme focussed on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) including 90 coastal areas, mainly in urban locations nationwide, identified as being at potentially significant risk of flooding. The proposed feasible measures, both structural and non-structural, identified for AFAs are outlined in the Flood Risk Management Plans.

The Draft Flood Risk Management Plans were published for public consultation in 2016 and a significant volume of submissions were received for consideration. In Summer 2017, the OPW finalised all Plans and each Plan was submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER) for an independent review of the environmental assessments. Having now received the outcomes of the independent review of the environmental assessments for the Flood Risk Management Plans, the Commissioners of Public Works will in the coming weeks submit the Flood Risk Management Plans to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for approval.

Following approval by the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, the Commissioners will send a copy of the Plans to the local authorities for their consideration, in accordance with the statutory requirements.

The Carysfort-Maretimo area has been studied as part of the East CFRAM Programme. The proposed measures include a series of flood defence walls and five offline storage areas. The height of the walls will be on average between 0.8m and 1.4m respectively and a total length of 250m.