Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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292. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the data resources available to individuals seeking up-to-date, accurate information on their exposure to flood risk; the frequency with which data and resources are updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35458/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Floodinfo.ie (www.floodinfo.ie/map-review/) is the OPW’s national flood information portal providing location specific access to flood risk and flood risk management information, including a range of flood maps. The portal was established in May, 2018 in conjunction with the launch of the 29 Flood Risk Management Plans developed under the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme involved a detailed assessment of flood risk for 300 communities, home to over 3 million people (approximately two-thirds of the national population), and for reaches in between these communities and down to the open sea. The CFRAM Programme produced a range of detailed flood maps for present-day conditions, and also for potential future scenarios taking into account the potential impacts of climate change. The 29 Flood Risk Management Plans, the flood maps and a wealth of other flood risk management information are published on the floodinfo.ie portal.

Updates and revisions to the flood maps produced through the CFRAM Programme may occasionally be required due to a change in physical conditions, the completion of an OPW-funded Flood Relief Scheme or Minor Works Scheme, Evidence presented by a recent flood event that calls into question the published Flood Map or based on other specific evidence. In these circumstances a Flood Map Review may be undertaken. A flood map review can be instigated at any time by the submission of a Flood Map Review Request Form. Full details of the Flood Map Review Programme and guidance notes for the flood map review process are available from the floodinfo.ie portal.

A flood map review is a two-stage process with the first stage representing a screening exercise. Where there is sufficient evidence provided that a published flood map does not reflect the current conditions, the OPW will proceed to a detailed re-assessment of the area in question, which may include topographical survey, re-estimation of flood flows, and computer modelling to produce flood mapping.

Where a flood map is updated, the revised draft flood map is published on the floodinfo.ie portal for 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.