Written answers

Tuesday, 12 October 2021

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Flood Risk Management

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way flood that risk maps are created; the way a person who is of the view that their area has incorrectly been included in a flood risk area can query this with the possibility of being removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49360/21]

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Flood hazard and flood risk maps, as required under Article 6 of the EU ‘Floods’ Directive, were prepared through the National CFRAM Programme and parallel projects, and published by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2016. These flood maps were prepared for existing conditions and for two potential future climate change scenarios. The flood maps are publicly available through the OPW flood portal; www.floodinfo.ie.

The flood maps are kept under constant review and are updated, if necessary, where:

- there is new infrastructure in place,

- it is known that a flood plain has changed, e.g., following the completion of a flood relief scheme, and/or,

- new information arises, such as after a significant flood event.

A review of the flood maps may be instigated by the OPW, based on direct observation or information provided by a local authority or another public body, or through a query raised or information provided by a member of the public or other stakeholder. The flood maps pageof the OPW flood portal includes a ‘Feedback’ tab that provides access to feedback forms that interested parties can complete and submit to initiate a review of one or more flood maps.

The review of a relevant flood map comprises a two-stage process:

- An initial assessment of the request to determine if there is reasonable, robust evidence to indicate that a change to a flood map is required.

- A full review, that may require reassessment of the hydrology, re-survey or re-modelling of the area concerned.

Where a flood map is updated, the revised draft flood map is published on www.floodinfo.iefor comment for a period of 30 days.

Following this period, any comments received are reviewed and, if appropriate, any resultant amendments are made with the final flood maps produced and published on the website.

In addition to these flood maps, other national, indicative mapping has also been produced through one-off mapping exercises using less detailed assessments. These maps should not be used for decision-making without additional verification, as set out in the associated guidance notes provided on the website.

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