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Flood Prevention Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Questions (302)

Michael McNamara

Question:

302. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out the options identified by his Department in terms of State investment in flood defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8148/14]

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Written answers

The Government has allocated a total of €225 million (€45 million per annum on average) over the period 2012 – 2016 for capital expenditure on flood risk management. This significant allocation, coming on top of capital expenditure of €270m in the 1996 – 2011 period, reflects the priority which is attached to addressing the problem of flood risk nationally. The multi-annual allocation will enable the Office of Public Works (OPW) to continue to progress its current flood risk management programmes including major capital flood defence schemes, minor works, and the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. In addition, the Government is also spending approximately €15 million per annum in current expenditure on an ongoing maintenance programme of completed arterial drainage and flood defence schemes. This excludes works undertaken and funded by local authorities on flood defence infrastructure under their remit.

The CFRAM Programme, examining the options for State investment in flood defences over the medium to long term and the Programme, focusing on 300 areas of potentially significant risk, lies at the core of the assessment of flood risk and the long-term planning of the flood risk management measures throughout the country, including capital structural and non-structural measures.

The CFRAM Studies are comprehensive catchment-based studies through which, following public consultation, detailed flood maps are produced and flood risk management measures are assessed and taken to outline design. These measures will be prioritised and set out in a Flood Risk Management Plan.

The CFRAM Programme will be used to determine national priorities for State investment in flood defences, on a systematic and objective basis using Multi-Criteria Analysis. More information on the Programme is available on www.cfram.ie.

Pending the completion of the CFRAM Programme, the OPW is continuing with its programme of major flood relief schemes. These schemes are focused on locations throughout the country where significant flood events have occurred in the past. Cost benefit analysis is the standard methodology used to determine priorities and for selection of major schemes. Benefits are measured in terms of the damage and loss avoided.

The identification and assessment of smaller scale flood risk problems and mitigation measures at local level within each county is a matter for the local authority concerned. It is open to local authorities to apply for funding under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme, introduced in 2009. The Scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

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