Written answers
Thursday, 30 July 2020
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Flood Risk Assessments
Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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370. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Fingal east County Meath flood risk assessment study will be implemented on the drainage network in Fingal and east County Meath and in particular on the Donabate peninsula which is identified as prone to flooding; the details of the capital investment on drainage infrastructure in the Fingal and east County Meath areas in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20968/20]
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Following the adoption by Government in 2004 of the Report of the Flood Policy Review Group, the OPW commenced a series of pilot CFRAM Projects to test and develop the approach before rolling-out the Programme nationally. The area within the Nanny-Delvin River Basin (UoM08) was included as the main component of the Fingal / East-Meath FRAM ('FEM-FRAM') pilot Study, with smaller adjoining parts of the Boyne and Liffey-Dublin Bay River Basin Districts. Details of the FEM-FRAM pilot Study can be found on the OPW website; www.floodinfo.ie. This study was completed in 2014.
In May 2018, the Government formally published 29 formal Flood Risk Management Plans - the key output on the culmination of the national CFRAM Programme. The Plan for the Nanny-Delvin River Basin (referred to as ‘Unit of Management 08’) specifically notes the measures set out through the FEM-FRAMS, including an update on their current status.
To support the implementation of the Plans and, specifically, the proposed new flood relief schemes, the Government has committed almost €1 billion in funding for flood risk management in the National Development Plan 2018 - 2027.
The status of the current schemes recommended as part of the FEM-FRAM / Nanny-Delvin FRMPs is set out below:
| Scheme | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Malahide | Design Scoping Underway |
| Portmarnock (Strand Road) | Design Scoping Underway |
| Skerries Mill Stream | At Scheme Development and Design Stage (OPW inhouse design) |
| Ashbourne | At Construction / scheduled for completion End 2020 / Early 2021 – Project budget: EUR2,5m |
| Mornington | Design Scoping Underway |
| Northlands, Bettystown | Substantially complete – Project Budget: EUR2.6m |
| Balgriffin | It is understood that housing development in the area has likely altered the hydraulic conditions on site and/or resolved the flooding issue identified in FEM FRAMS. To be reviewed. The OPW has put in place a process for undertaking such reviews as recommended in the FRMPs nationally, and it is envisaged that these reviews will be complete within the next 12 months. |
| Rush | The CFRAM Process did not identify an economically viable scheme for this community, and so a review of the risk in this community and the likely costs and benefits is to be undertaken to determine if a viable scheme may be available. The OPW has put in place a process for undertaking such reviews as recommended in the FRMPs nationally, and it is envisaged that these reviews will be complete within the next 12 months. Elements also being assessed as part of the Rogerstown Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management Study. |
| Bettystown (Laytown) | The CFRAM Process did not identify an economically viable scheme for this community, and so a review of the risk in this community and the likely costs and benefits is to be undertaken to determine if a viable scheme may be available. The OPW has put in place a process for undertaking such reviews as recommended in the FRMPs nationally, and it is envisaged that these reviews will be complete within the next 12 months. |
As well as the flood relief schemes described above, the following works have been approved for Fingal County and east County Meath under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection Works:
| County | Area | Description of Works | Approved Funding | Year Approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Meath | Swan River | Construct flood embankments | EUR270,000 | 2009 |
| East Meath | Swan River | Construct flood embankments | EUR45,000 | 2010 |
| East Meath | Eastham Stream | Remove and relocate existing pipes and ancillary works | EUR22,500 | 2011 |
| East Meath | Northlands, Bettystown | Study to identify catchment area flowing into estate & detailed analysis of possible potential solutions | EUR36,000 | 2012 |
| Fingal | Aspen, Swords | Increase the channel capacity by widening the Gaybrook stream along a 200m length at Aspen | EUR54,000 | 2011 |
| Fingal | Rowlestown | Construction of a flood defence embankment along the left bank of the Broadmeadow Tributary in Rowelstown | EUR153,000 | 2011 |
| Fingal | Portrane / Rush(coastal) | Coastal Erosion Risk Management Study | EUR57,800 | 2013 |
| Fingal | The Grange, Malahide | Construction of bund/berm & associated works | EUR93,600 | 2013 |
| Fingal | R127,Skerries Balbriggan Regional Road | Emergency sea defence works- stonework pointing, replacement of existing wall, additional rock armour & re-instatement of damaged rock armour | EUR197,480 | 2014 |
| Fingal | Malahide Town Centre | Study | EUR45,000 | 2014 |
| Fingal | The Burrow, Portrane (Coastal) | Installation of 380 no. concrete ‘SeaBee’ units to reduce the wave energy reaching the dune face (Temporary interim emergency measures) | EUR456,464 | 2018 |
The OPW also maintains over 170km of river channel in the Fingal / East-Meath area, including both the Broadmeadow & Ward Arterial Drainage Scheme, and the Matt Arterial Drainage Scheme. This work forms part of the OPW’s ongoing arterial drainage maintenance programme, which is carried out under a budget allocation of EUR18m annually.
In addition to the structural measures (i.e. flood relief schemes, Minor Works and drainage maintenance), the Plans also contain important non-structural measures to address flood risk and the overall implementation of the Plans is being overseen by an Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group.
A key role of the Interdepartmental Group is to carefully consider the extent of non-structural solutions that can inform the ten-year implementation strategy of the Flood Risk Management Plans. The 2009 Planning System and Flood Risk Management guidelines are informing planning decisions to prevent new properties being built in areas at risk from flooding. In 2016, the Government agreed to the establishment of a National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service to enable members of the public and local authorities take more preventative action to reduce the impact of flooding. An Implementation Plan for this service is being delivered by Met Eireann and is overseen by a Steering Group chaired by the Office of Public Works. It is a vital resource to inform future response to flood risk including how local authorities plan for and respond to flood events.
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