Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of proposals for a voluntary home relocation scheme for domestic dwellings affected by flooding and unable to receive insurance cover or adequate remedial works; the number of homes due to be covered by the scheme; the amount due to be allocated; the timeframe of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36885/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on strategic maintenance works on the River Shannon in 2017 and to date in 2018. [36886/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the trial on lowering water levels in Lough Allen undertaken by a group (details supplied); if there are legal or statutory impediments to such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36888/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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226. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of meetings held by the interdepartmental flood policy co-ordination group in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36889/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the establishment and operation of the national flood forecasting and warning service unit; the number of staff employed in the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36890/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of meetings held by the River Shannon co-ordination group in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36891/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding set aside for the pilot scheme of individual home protection measures; the amount of funding drawn down; the timeframe for a decision on the future of the pilot scheme's national roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36892/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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231. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Office of Public Works' work on riparian rights landowners' legal obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36896/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 229, inclusive, and 231 together.

Home relocation

On April 11th 2017, the Government agreed the administrative arrangements for a once-off Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme for those primary residential properties that flooded between, or as a result of flooding between 4th December, 2015 and 13th January, 2016. This is a national scheme of humanitarian assistance, targeting aid at those worst affected properties, for which there are no alternative feasible measures.

The Government decision confirmed that a homeowner had to meet a number of conditions to be eligible for assistance under this scheme, including:

- That floodwater entered and damaged the building during the relevant dates such as to render it uninhabitable.

- That the property was the homeowner’s primary residence at the time of the floods.

- That the affected property must have a significant probability of the recurrence of the flood depth, duration or frequency on a scale that could cause further serious and similar damage to the home.

- That the property is not due to or may not benefit from a planned or possible future major, minor or individual flood defence scheme.

- That the property may not be protected adequately from being flooded in the future, at an economically feasible cost, through other flood mitigation works including minor works, individual property protection or other possible measures that can be considered at this time.

- That the homeowner is unable to obtain flood risk insurance.

At this time, in relation to those homeowners being considered under the scheme, the OPW is continuing to work with each of the Local Authorities. To date:

- 43 homeowners have been met in relation to the scheme and in June of this year,36 of these homeowners were invited to apply for the next stage that includes a site inspection,

- 43 homes have been approved or are being considered by the Local Authorities for remedial works, to provide an engineering solution to their property,

- 58 homes did not meet the criteria for the scheme.

The numbers of homes within the process are changing regularly as homeowners make contact with the OPW and as assessments are completed.

The OPW has budgeted up to €3m this year for the potential costs associated with this scheme.

Shannon Group & Lake Levels

The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group met on six occasions in 2016. During 2016, the primary focus of the Group was to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies and set out a Work Programme. In 2017, a number of sub-committees were established in accordance with the Group's Terms of Reference to progress the delivery of initiatives agreed by the Group. The Group met formally twice in 2017 with sub-committee and other bilateral meetings taking place more frequently as required. The Group has met once this year with another meeting scheduled for October.

Information about the Group is available on the OPW website, www.opw.ie.

The Group took a decision in October 2016 to trial the lowering of the lake levels on Lough Allen, within the existing statutory framework, during the Winter 2016/2017 to help mitigate potential flood risk. A protocol was finalised between ESB, Waterways Ireland and the OPW to lower the late Autumn and Winter minimum lake levels in Lough Allen by approximately 0.7 metres with the first reduction implemented in October 2016. The trial was repeated for the Winter 2017/2018 and is being reviewed. The Group took a decision at its meeting in May to repeat the trial for this coming Winter, subject to the review.

The Group at its meeting on 2 December, 2016 took a major decision to develop a plan for a strategic maintenance programme on the River Shannon to halt the deterioration of the river channel. Planning for a strategic maintenance programme has been advanced during 2017 and 2018 and will be discussed by the Group at its meeting in October.

Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group

The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Coordination Group, that I chair, met twice in 2015, four times in 2016, once in 2017, once in 2018 to date with a further meeting scheduled for October. The most recent meeting was held on 7th February, 2018.

In November 2016, Government agreed an interim report from the Interdepartmental Flood Policy Coordination Group setting out progress on its work and making appropriate recommendations for consideration by Government. This report is available to view on the OPW website at .

Implementing the National Flood Risk Policy, launched with the Flood Risk Management Plans on 3 May 2018, provides an update of progress by the Group’s implementation of the national flood risk policy. This report is available on www.floodinfo.ie

National Flood Forecasting & Warning Service

A Steering Group has been established to steer, support and oversee the establishment of a new National Flood Forecasting Service. The Steering Group has met on sixteen occasions to date, agreed a Terms of Reference and prepared and agreed an implementation plan comprising a number of phases, including an initial set-up phase and a development and trial phase. Work is now progressing on these phases.

The service will deal with flood forecasting from fluvial (river) and coastal sources. When established it will involve the issuing of flood forecasts and general alerts.

Given the complexities involved in establishing, designing, developing and testing this new service, it is anticipated that it will take at least 5 years before it is fully operational and it is estimated it will require a staffing complement of 15 full time posts. To date, the following progress has been made including staff appointed:

- Met Éireann has appointed two staff members to date to the project.

- Met Éireann is in the process of recruiting Hydrometeorologists for its Flood Forecasting Centre.

- In April 2018, a contract was placed for a study of suitable catchment-based models and an assessment of integrator systems to be undertaken over an 18 month period.

- A Communications Working Group, reporting to the Steering Group, has been established to consider the communications needs of the service and has recently held its first meeting.  

Individual Property Protection

The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group this year is considering the potential costs and benefits associated with the introduction of an individual property protection scheme.

The Group is being informed by two different OPW funded pilot projects, in Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh in County Kilkenny and Crossmolina in County Mayo. The Co-ordination Group’s work, when completed, will be submitted to Government for consideration in the context of the merits of the introduction by Government of any scheme to support individual property protection measures.

Following consideration of the consultant engineer’s feasibility report on a potential IPP scheme, Kilkenny County Council, having noted the limitations of such measures and having regard to the adoption by the Council in June 2018 of the Flood Risk Management Plan for the Kilkenny area which includes proposals for permanent flood defence schemes for both Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown, has confirmed to the OPW that it does not now propose to progress the implementation of IPP measures for the two towns. The Council’s preference is for permanent flood defence measures and it is now in correspondence and discussion with the OPW on the implementation of the proposed schemes for the two towns and other proposed flood defence schemes for County Kilkenny.  Expenditure to date on the Kilkenny pilot scheme is €27,956 which relates to costs incurred for the commission of the feasibility report for the pilot.

Mayo County Council (MCC), in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the local Flood Action Group, have progressed a pilot project for the installation of flood gates for properties in Crossmolina. A survey of households in the town by MCC received expressions of interest from over 70 homeowners. OPW appointed consultants to undertake a survey of individual properties to determine their suitability for floodgates, and to make recommendations for each property. MCC procured a contractor to supply and install the floodgates based on the recommendations of the consultants. The OPW has provided some €237,000 in funding to date for this pilot with gates having now been installed in 67 properties in the town. Some property owners who originally expressed an interest in having gates installed have not responded to further communications from the consultant appointed by OPW. As a result, these properties are still awaiting gates.

Additionally, a review is ongoing as to whether further properties in Crossmolina might benefit from the installation of gates.

Riparian Guidance

The OPW will be publishing on www.flooding.ieguidance to landowners in relation to the maintenance of watercourses on or near their lands in the context of managing flood risk. This website is undergoing a review and it is expected that an updated website with some guidance will be available before the end of this year.