Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018
200. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the flood improvement works which will be carried out by location in County Louth; when the list of all areas covered by these works will be published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4237/18]
View answerThe core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of Flood Risk Management Plans.
The CFRAM Programme focussed on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) including 90 coastal areas, mainly in urban locations nationwide, identified as being at potentially significant risk of flooding. The proposed feasible measures, both structural and non-structural, identified for AFAs are to be outlined in the Flood Risk Management Plans.
Louth has seven Areas of Further Assessment (AFA) and are being assessed by the North Western – Neagh Bann and Eastern CFRAM Programmes. The following is a summary of the proposed draft plans.
- Carlingford and Greenore: Coastal & Fluvial Hard Defences, improved channel conveyance and two pumping stations.
- Dundalk and Blackrock South: Hard Defences, improved channel conveyance and storage. Each flood protection method tailored specifically to each of the thirteen identified flood prone areas in the AFA.
- Annagassan: Hard Defences.
- Ardee: Hard Defences.
- Baltray: Hard Defences.
- Drogheda: Hard Defences, channel conveyance and flow diversion.
- Termonfeckin: Improved channel conveyance.
The Draft Flood Risk Management Plans were published for public consultation in 2016 and a significant volume of submissions were received for consideration. In Summer 2017, the OPW finalised all Plans and each Plan was submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for an independent review of the environmental assessments. This independent review is nearing completion, after which the Final Plans will be formally submitted to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for approval, in accordance with the statutory requirements.
I would hope in the coming weeks to seek the approval from the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for the Flood Risk Management Plans developed under the CFRAM process.
