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Flood Risk Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022

Thursday, 28 April 2022

Questions (139)

Steven Matthews

Question:

139. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps the OPW is taking in collaboration with the EPA to identify nature-based solutions to develop catchment management measures to provide benefits to various sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21097/22]

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Written answers

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has been engaged in a number of activities to assess and develop nature-based solutions that can have benefits for Water Framework Directive, flood risk management and biodiversity objectives.

In 2019, a four-year research project, under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research programme, titled ‘A Strategic Look at Natural Water Retention Measures’ (SLOWWATERS) commenced. This ongoing research has a budget of €508,000 and is co-funded by the OPW and the Department of Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The research will assess the benefits of nature-based solutions for agricultural catchments in Ireland. The project outputs will provide recommendations for the management of specific catchment types relevant to the Irish environment by quantifying the magnitude of nature-based solutions required to reduce flood peaks and improve downstream water quality by attenuating nutrients.

In addition to co-funding large-scale research, the OPW has contributed to funding community led work. In 2019, a study, carried out by Trinity College Dublin on behalf of Inishowen Rivers Trust and funded by the OPW, to assess the feasibility of implementing nature-based solutions for catchment management at five locations on the Inishowen peninsula was completed. This study was followed by a LEADER funded project to implement nature-based solutions in Clonmany, to which the OPW has committed funding. This project has implemented 69 measures, typically leaky-dams to slow flood peaks, and has involved extensive landowner and community engagement.

The OPW co-chaired a working group with the EPA which was established in 2019 to advise the National Technical Implementation Group of the Water Framework Directive on the use of nature-based solutions to contribute to the achievement of environmental objectives set out in the second River Basin Management Plan. The working group presented their findings in 2020 and the OPW is now part of the steering group for an EPA research project to implement a key recommendation from the working group titled ‘Integrated Framework for River Restoration and Nature-based Solutions for Integrated Catchment Management’. The aim of this project is to develop a decision support framework to identify appropriate measures for restoring rivers and implementing nature-based solutions for integrated catchment management that would work to restore impacted surface waters.

The development of flood relief schemes under the OPW’s capital programme now involves a specific requirement to assess the potential for nature-based solutions as part of the overall solution to managing flood risk for a particular community. Where feasible, these measures will be implemented to reduce flood risk and contribute to achieving co-benefits such as water quality improvement, habitat creation, and climate change adaption.

Question No. 140 answered with Question No. 116.
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