Vol. 558 No. 3
5 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the guidelines he has issued or plans to issue in regard to the effects of climate change on the built environment in the State due to rising sea levels and increased rainfall. [24067/02]
An assessment of the likely impacts of climate change in Ireland is included as part of the EPA's environmental research programme under the productive sector operational programme of the national development plan. This will model impacts to 2070, based on current global scenarios on greenhouse gas emissions, and preliminary indications are that increases in winter precipitation, on average 11%, will occur over most of Ireland. The greatest increases – up to 20% – are likely in the north-west. It is likely the magnitude and frequency of individual flood events will increase over this period.
Current global modelling of sea level change predicts a rise in the range of nine to 88 centimetres by 2100. For Ireland, the effects are likely to be accentuated where high tides coincide with storm surges. Coastal flood plains are most at risk and the south of the country is likely to be affected first. The impacts of sea level rise will be most apparent in major cities where infrastructure is at risk of inundation.
The Planning and Development Act, 2000, specifically empowers planning authorities to provide in their development plans that development in areas at risk of flooding, whether inland or coastal, may be regulated, restricted or controlled. If development is proposed in a flood-risk area, planning permission can be refused, if necessary. My Department is currently preparing guidelines for planning authorities on development plans, to be published first in draft form for public consultation. The question of indicating areas which are liable to flooding on development plan maps will be considered in this context.
Primary responsibility in relation to flooding rests with the Office of Public Works. My Department's main concern is to ensure that, when adverse conditions arise, local authorities are geared to respond promptly and effectively to help offset the worst effects in relation to those aspects for which they have direct responsibility. In this regard, my Department has included a strategic drainage study of the Dublin region in the current water services investment programme. This is expected to identify policies, strategies and projects for developing a sustainable drainage system for the growing greater Dublin area, including Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. While the study will deal with all drainage issues, it will deal specifically with flooding problems, including those linked to climate change. It will take account of available international and national research and proposed solutions.
The study began in 2001 and is expected to be completed by July 2003. In addition, the consultants have been instructed to produce an interim assessment of short-term flood protection measures for the River Tolka catchment and their costs, which might be possible in advance of the completion of the main report. This interim assessment is expected shortly.
Is the Minister not aware there has been no revision of the guidelines to local authorities in terms of determining planning applications since the last ones were issued in 1981 and that they are seriously out of date? Does he not feel there is a huge problem with recent flooding? The vast new housing estates being built in Kildare and Meath in the greater Dublin area are causing flash flooding downstream because of the impermeability of tarmacadam and concrete. Those waters are flooding into rivers like the Tolka which is compounded by possible rising sea levels and tide and rainfall increases. When one adds to that the failure of the Department of the Environment and Local Government to seriously tackle climate change and when one examines our obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, we are spiralling out of control. Does the Minister not agree he is not paying enough attention to the issue of climate change given that emissions will be 175% over the level they should be in eight years' time?
Surely, the Minister needs to tackle the issue of climate change. The document he launched today merely pays lip-service to it because it states that it seeks to minimise the increase rather than fulfilling obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Does the Minister agree he has little control over climate change and that the kind of flooding problems we have had in Cork, Dublin and Clonmel will continue unless he takes radical steps to plan where development should take place? There seems to be no evidence of that in the strategic planning guidelines, certainly not in the way local authorities are flouting them, and there is no indication of new legislation in the national spatial strategy.
As I said in my reply to the Deputy, guidelines are being drafted at present which we will have shortly. These will form part of the discussions with local authorities and have done so already. I agree we need specific and strict guidelines in this regard. It is no excuse, however, for a local authority to make decisions on flood plains without regard to common sense. That is the basis from which we should all operate. In my former role as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, I specifically issued guidelines in regard to what happened with many new motorways two or three years ago, insisting that account be taken of flooding impacts from developments in the area. The Department is there to assist local authorities in this, as is the Office of Public Works. I understand that yesterday evening the Minister of State in that area announced a full review of flooding and its impact, and that is a positive aspect to be welcomed.
On climate change, I am not satisfied with the situation in Ireland. We are under pressure. We have legal obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and our agreements within the EU. As a nation, we want to live in a better environment. Support will be needed from all sectors of society, including this House, to deliver the major changes, particularly in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. As the Deputy points out, the average emission per person in the EU is ten tonnes whereas, unfortunately, in Ireland it is 17.7 tonnes. That is a serious problem. I will continue to ensure that I drive forward legislation, rules and regulations to change this aspect but I need public support over a range of issues to counteract this.
A Cheann Comhairle—
Sorry, Deputy, we have already spent over six minutes on the question. I have already ruled on Deputy Gilmore's question.
