Thomas Pringle
Question:23. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made in relation to flood prevention measures in the Finn Valley area of County Donegal. [19903/16]
View answerWednesday, 6 July 2016
Questions (23)
Oral answers (4 contributions)
This question relates to the devastating flooding that took place in County Donegal last December in the wake of storm Desmond. Large parts of east Donegal through Ballybofey, Castlefinn and Lifford were severely flooded. The flooding dissipated very quickly and in the weeks afterward there was very severe flooding in the rest of the country. I want to make sure the incident in Donegal stays on the Government’s agenda to make sure the funding is put in place to remedy this situation as quickly as possible because there is no doubt it will arise again.
The core strategy for addressing the areas at significant risk and impact from flooding is the Office of Public Works, OPW, catchment flood risk assessment and management programme, CFRAM. CFRAM is reaching a stage where we will put it on public display in mid-July. All the preliminary options have been displayed. The Government has announced increased levels in the investment for flood relief as part of its capital investment plan 2016-21. The Government recently announced increased levels of investment in the area of flood relief as part of the overall Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 and this investment programme will allow for consideration of measures arising from the flood risk management plans.
Twenty-six areas for further assessment, AFAs, are being assessed in County Donegal under the CFRAM programme. These were deemed to be areas of potentially significant flood risk under the preliminary flood risk assessment, PFRA, which was completed in 2011. The Donegal AFAs are being assessed under the north western-Neagh Bann CFRAM study. Work on this study is progressing well. Further information is available on the study website: www.neaghbanncframstudy.ie/.
The following is the list of AFAs in Donegal:
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Ardara Ballybofey / Stranorlar Bridge End Bunbeg - Derrybeg Buncrana and Luddan Bundoran and Environs Burnfoot Carndonagh Kerrykeel (Carrowkeel) |
Castlefinn Clonmany Convoy Donegal Downings (Downies) Dunfanaghy Dungloe Glenties Killybegs |
Killygordon Letterkenny Lifford Malin Moville Newtown Cunningham/ (Newtowncunningham) Ramelton (Rathmelton) Rathmullan |
I thank the Minister of State for his response. The key point is when the money will be made available following the completion of these studies, particularly for areas that are the responsibility of the OPW. I understand very few areas in Donegal the direct responsibility of the OPW. I presume the next stage will be applications for funding. I refer in particular to east Donegal, Finn Valley, Ballybofey, Stranorlar and Lifford. When will their status in the priority listing within the Department for funding for works to be carried out be decided?
Three hundred areas throughout the country will be determined and put on a priority list. Based on that, projects will be taken in order of priority. The public consultation that will happen in the next three months will determine people's input into that process and will be adopted by local authorities early next year. There is plenty of room for minor works schemes to be carried out to relieve some flooding. Projects up to €500,000 in total can be applied for through local authorities. Such schemes can be brought forward at any time by local authorities. A total of €430 million is available over the next five years for projects to be carried out. We would welcome any applications under the minor works scheme for projects in Donegal.