Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the public objection and local opposition to aspects of the proposed flood relief plans for Ballyhale, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28832/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme was the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State; covering 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk, and culminated with the launch of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans on 3 May 2018, and proposed 118 new outline flood relief projects on top of the 42 major projects already completed and the 33 major schemes within the existing capital works programme of the Office of Public Works (OPW).

All of these projects are to be funded under the Government's 10 year flood risk investment programme of almost €1 billion under the National Development Plan 2018 – 2027. 

As it is not possible to progress all 118 proposed new schemes at once, funding of €257 million for an initial phase of 50 flood relief projects throughout the country was also announced which would be progressed to detailed design and construction; including the five largest schemes identified in the Plans and 31 small, or minor projects, under €1 million which will be progressed directly by local authorities.

The proposed flood relief works at Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny comprise one of the minor outline flood relief projects, which is to involve the construction of an embankment and flow diversion from the Ballyhale watercourse to the Little Arrigle River and will protect twenty-five properties when completed.

It is important to emphasise that all of the proposed schemes, including the proposed project for Ballyhale, were developed through the CFRAM Programme to outline design only, which means they are not, at this point, final, definitive, nor ready for construction.  Further detailed design through a project-level of assessment will be required for such works before implementation. This process will include further public and stakeholder consultation and engagement, project-level environmental assessment and appraisal (which would include an Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment where relevant) and a statutory planning process.

Local information that was not captured at the Plan-level assessment will be collected and assessed by Kilkenny County Council during the next stage of development for the project and may potentially give rise to changes to the proposed works to ensure that they are viable and fully adapted, developed and appropriate within the local context, and that they are compliant with environmental legislation. The proposed works set out in the current outline may therefore be subject to some amendments prior to implementation.

It is acknowledged that the route of the proposed diversion channel as shown in the outline plan is through lands owned by the Ballyhale Shamrock GAA club. However, as this proposal is at outline design stage and subject to further consultation, there is scope for addressing the concerns of the Ballyhale community prior to the design of the proposed works being finalised.

A new website, www.floodinfo.ie, launched on 3 May 2018, provides access to the published Flood Plans along with the Flood Maps developed by the OPW and information about flood risk management in Ireland.