Written answers

Tuesday, 11 December 2018

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Flood Prevention Measures

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

160. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if local authorities are obliged to record the number of flooding incidents on a monthly or annual basis, or otherwise; if his Department collates these data to analyse them at national level; if so, the number of serious flooding incidents nationwide in each month since the start of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51614/18]

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

164. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW measures the number of flooding instances nationwide; if not, if this is a matter for each individual local authority; the number of serious flooding incidents nationwide in each month since the start of 2015, if such data are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51613/18]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 164 together.

Following approval by Government of the Report of the Flood Policy Review Group in September 2004, the Office of Public Works (OPW) commenced a project to collate from various sources, process and publish available information on past floods in Ireland. The data collated were published on the website www.floodmaps.ie in October 2006. Since then, the OPW has continued to collate information on floods that have occurred. This data collection has been undertaken directly or by consultants on behalf of the OPW, or via the local authorities and other sources.

In May 2018, a new web-portal, www.floodinfo.ie, was launched to publish the Flood Risk Management Plans and the flood maps prepared through the National Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Studies. The past flood data up to 2014 have been migrated from the old "floodmaps" website to the new web-portal, where information on the past floods is available, including reports and photographs.

The flood data that are collated and published is limited to that which is reported to the OPW from a variety of sources (government, private and individuals) for inclusion as it becomes available. Some flood events may have occurred where data has not been collated and / or reported to the OPW, and hence would not be available. Similarly, only the data providing details on the floods can be published, which does not always include the degree of impact, such as the number of properties affected or the damages incurred.

The OPW is currently processing data on past floods that have occurred in recent years and these data will be uploaded to www.floodinfo.ie.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.