Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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95. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps that the OPW will be taking to address the ecological and environmental impact of arterial drainage works given the comments made by the Taoiseach regarding the need for a new era of stewardship of the natural world in Ireland; the steps that his Department will take to integrate ecological engineering approaches and nature-based solutions into flood relief works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31306/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The OPW has an extensive evidence based environmental management programme across all of its flood risk management activities.

Under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, the OPW has completed thirty-four Arterial Drainage Schemes on river catchments, along with five estuarine embankment schemes. The OPW, through its arterial drainage works, meets its statutory duty to maintain these completed schemes in proper repair and effective condition.

In terms of best practice and national guidance for these arterial maintenance works, the OPW has developed and published the national ‘Environmental Guidance: Drainage Maintenance and Construction’. This sets out a framework for the arterial drainage maintenance service to minimise potential environmental impact and maximise the environmental gain through proactive initiatives such as the river enhancement programme. This guidance was developed in consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland.

The Arterial Drainage Maintenance Service also operates a national framework of multi-annual Appropriate Assessments for thirty-one catchments. All associated Screening reports, Natura Impact Assessments and Appropriate Assessment Determinations, including those for specific sites are published on the OPW website.A public consultation is to commence shortly to inform the next 6-year Strategic Environmental Assessment for the National Arterial Drainage Maintenance Programme.

The OPW is currently delivering some 150 flood relief schemes as part of the Government’s €1.3bn investment under the National Development Plan to 2030.

The design of all flood relief schemes involves an extensive series of environmental assessments. As well as meeting the statutory and regulatory requirements these detailed assessments help to inform how the environment can be integrated into a viable scheme design. To that end, there is a specific requirement for all design consultancy services to assess the potential for nature-based solutions for catchment management as an integral part of the overall viable scheme design options. Where feasible, these measures are being implemented helping to manage the flood risk for a community and provide many co-benefits including for agriculture, aquaculture potential through improving water quality and biodiversity by creating habitats and reducing pollution.

The OPW in its Biodiversity Action Strategy 2021-2026 is enhancing the ways in which it works with flood relief and arterial drainage works to include creative solutions, balancing biodiversity with social impacts, minimising environmental impacts where they are unavoidable and creating opportunities to achieve Net Gain for both biodiversity and flood protection through sound policies, procedures and research.

As a proactive contributor and participant in a wide range of studies and research projects, the OPW continues to inform and improve its approach to environmental assessments and nature-based solutions. In this way, the OPW is continuing to take an evidence-based approach and meet the highest standards.