I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 127, inclusive, together.
The river referred to by the Deputy does not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which would fall under the remit of the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. The OPW therefore has no responsibility for the maintenance of this river.
Glenflesk village, including Curreal bridge, is one of 300 locations nationwide that is being assessed under the OPW's Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the purpose of which is to implement the EU Floods Directive and national flood policy. The Programme involves the production of predictive flood risk and hazard mapping for each location, the development of appropriate and viable preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans. Under the South Western CFRAM Study, draft predictive flood maps for Glenflesk have been produced and were the subject of a Public Consultation Day in Glenflesk on 21 October 2014. Following the conclusion on 23 December 2015 of the national statutory public consultation on the draft flood maps, the maps will be finalised in early 2016. Work on the Preliminary flood risk management options phase of the CFRAM Study is under way. In that regard, a Public Consultation Day was held in Glenflesk on 8 December 2015. Further information is available on the South Western CFRAM Study website www.southwestcframstudy.ie. All possible options to manage the flood risk in Glenflesk are being considered to develop feasible flood risk management plans. The feasible options will not cause any flooding impact upstream or downstream of the area being protected.
The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment in 2011 designated those areas at potentially significant risk from flooding for further assessment through the CFRAM programme. The decisions at that time were based on preliminary modelling, historical records and also public consultation, including with the Local Authorities. Foiladonn and Gortahoosh bridge are not included in the CFRAM Study assessment of Glenflesk. The OPW is preparing its plans to meet the requirement in the EU Floods Directive to conduct a further assessment in 2017 of areas at potentially significant risk from flooding for further assessment.
Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Kerry County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources. The Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. It is open to the Council to submit a funding application under the Scheme. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the overall availability of resources for flood risk management and the scheme's eligibility criteria available on the OPW website.