Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of instances of flooding as a result of recent storms; the estimated value of damage; the immediate plans to address these floods; the medium and long-term plans to mitigate the risk of future flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3748/20]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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In line with the statutory framework for emergency response, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has lead responsibility for co-ordinating the national response to flood events and can provide the Deputy with information on flood instances and estimated value of damage as a result of recent storms.

Most of the flood affected areas were on certain stretches of the river Shannon.

The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established by the Government in 2016 to support existing plans in place and planned to address flooding and to enhance the ongoing co-operation of all state agencies involved with the River Shannon. 

The Group publishes an Annual Work Programme that demonstrates the extensive range of activities and co-ordination by all State Agencies underway to jointly and proactively address flood risk along the Shannon. These Work Programmes are  available at www.opw.ie.

The Group has taken a number of significant decisions since its establishment, including targeted maintenance activities at a number of locations, trialling the lowering of the levels on Lough Allen, studies to explore managing flood risk at the Callows and a study on the cause, degree and rate of restriction downstream of Parteen Weir. 

In January 2020, Mr. Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, announced that he has secured government support for €7 million investment to advance a planned programme of maintenance works and the removal of constrictions or ‘pinch points’ on the bed of the River Shannon at the Callows Region between Athlone and Meelick Weir to improve the conveyancing of the River Shannon. This investment, following full environmental assessment and planning, as well as helping to mitigate Summer, low level, flooding to support the tourism, navigation and agricultural sectors for this region.

In relation to plans to address flood risk nationally, in  May 2018 the Government launched a €1billion investment programme in flood relief measures and schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2018-2027, to protect properties and communities assessed by the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme to be at significant risk from flooding, that is , from the 100 year flood event.

CFRAM was the largest study of flood risk management undertaken in Ireland and followed best international practice. It assessed the flood risk for those 300 communities most likely to be impacted from flooding in the future, and included 90 coastal communities.

The flood risk in these communities represents 80% of the risk from our primary cause of flooding - and they are home to almost two thirds of our population.

For these communities CFRAM assessed both the flood risk and its impact for today and in the future from climate change using two internationally recognised climate change scenarios.

 CFRAM also provided the evidence to recommend 118 flood relief schemes in addition to the 33 already underway at that time; and other solutions that can manage that risk. The details of these were published in May 2018 in 29 Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs). The details of the flood risk and the FRMP by location are available on the OPW website www.floodinfo.ie.

45 flood relief schemes, costing over €400m have been completed protecting approximately 10,000 properties and avoiding damages and losses estimated at €2billion approximately.

Since the launch of the FRMPs in May 2018, the OPW and Local Authorities have been pro-actively engaged to advance the implementation of schemes and have almost tripled from 33 to 92, the number of major flood relief schemes at design and construction.  Project Steering Groups have been established and are working to oversee the implementation of the projects.  This collaboration and NDP allocated funding will allow the OPW and Local Authorities to complete these 92 schemes currently in the pipeline and bring the balance of 59 schemes, identified by the FRMPs through design and construction. 

In addition to advancing with major schemes, the OPW also works closely with Local Authorities to support local flood relief projects up to a maximum of €750,000 per project under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The total amount of funding drawn down to date by Local Authorities under this Scheme since 2009 is €39 million in respect of over 580 completed projects. These are providing local flood relief to some 7,000 properties. Approximately two thirds of these are outside of those areas to be protected by major flood relief schemes.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of flood instances as a result of the recent storms by county and location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3749/20]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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In line with the statutory framework for emergency response, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has lead responsibility for co-ordinating the national response to flood events and can provide the Deputy with information on flood instances and estimated value of damage as a result of recent storms.