Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2014
196. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on tackling flooding in an area (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47019/14]
View answer197. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on any new flood relief proposals for County Louth and east Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47020/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
Arising from flood events in the area of Northlands Estate in Bettystown, Meath County Council submitted an application to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for funding to engage consultants to investigate the problem and bring forward proposals for mitigation measures. Funding was approved and the tendering process to procure consultants is currently ongoing. The OPW understands that the Council expects to appoint consultants shortly, most likely early in 2015.
Louth County Council has submitted an application under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection Works Scheme for funding of €26,000 in relation to a project for coastal remedial works at Whitestown. This is being assessed by the OPW engineering staff currently.
Louth County Council was allocated up to €191,000 for repairs to damaged coastal protection infrastructure arising out of the severe weather in the period 13 December, 2013 to 6 January 2014. The Council has to date submitted a claim to the OPW to draw down €118,494 of this total amount. This is expected to be processed before end 2014.
Meath County Council was allocated up to €75,000 for repairs to damaged coastal protection infrastructure arising out of the severe weather in the period 13 December, 2013 to 6 January 2014. The Council has to date not submitted a claim to the OPW to draw down any of this total amount.
With regard to flood relief proposals in counties Meath and Louth generally, the OPW's Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme is assessing the most significant flood risk in those counties and, under the programme, Flood Risk Management Plans will be produced to include measures to address that risk. The North Western/Neagh Bann Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) study, which is one of six such studies currently ongoing, will assess flood risk in 40 areas of significant risk, known as Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs), a number of which are in County Louth. The areas of flood risk in east Meath have already been studied under the Fingal/East Meath CFRAM pilot study.
Currently, draft flood maps are being produced under the North Western/Neagh Bann study and Public Consultation Days will be held in each location in early 2015. These will be advertised locally and members of the public will have an opportunity to provide comments on the draft maps. Following completion of the mapping phase, the study will examine all options to reduce flood risk, including both structural and non-structural measures, and will also consider related environmental issues. Structural measures would involve constructing flood defences or increasing conveyance capacity where appropriate, while the non-structural options would include such measures as the introduction of flood warning systems. Further information and updates on the North Western/Neagh Bann study are available on the website www.neaghbanncframstudy.ie
Pending completion of the CFRAM Programme subject to cost benefit and funding availability, it would be open to local authorities to apply for funding to undertake minor flood mitigation measures under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. It is also open to the local authorities to undertake measures using their own resources.
