Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
69. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to report on the progress of the OPW in assessing the impact of climate change on flooding and flood risk assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17706/24]
View answerThe OPW has assessed flood risk through the National Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme and subsequent projects. Flood maps have been prepared and published for potential future conditions, taking into account the potential impacts of climate change, as well as for present-day conditions. This covers the entire coastline, and for all rivers and streams nationally with a catchment area of more than 5km2
The OPW is currently updating the national flood risk assessment based on this mapping to review where significant flood risk currently exists, and importantly also where flood risk may become significant in the future due to the impacts of climate change, and hence where measures to manage the risk may be required in the future.
The OPW's Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan (CCSAP) for Flood Risk Management sets out a long-term goal for adaptation in flood risk management, along with a set of objectives and adaptation actions aimed at achieving those objectives.
These actions, that require a whole-of-government response, span the areas of flood risk prevention, protection and preparedness and resilience, as well as in further research, risk-assessment and capacity building.
Flood relief schemes that are currently in construction or under design, or that are planned as set out in the FRMPs, will have a Scheme Climate Change Adaptation Plan (SCCAP) prepared. This ensures that climate adaptation is embedded in the design process with a view to the scheme being planned and designed so that it will provide for, or can be efficiently adapted to manage, increased flood risk associated with climate change. A pilot SCCAP was developed for the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme as part of the design process for that Scheme, which has informed the preparation of guidance for application across other schemes.
All existing flood relief schemes will also have SCCAPs prepared retrospectively to determine what future interventions or works would be required to maintain the required standard of protection. A national programme is now commencing to prepare such plans for the schemes previously constructed around the country.
A number of other actions from the CCSAP are also being implemented, including revising the Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection Scheme to ensure that future impacts of climate change are considered, and updating guidance on the economic appraisal of new flood relief schemes to provide for climate change.
The OPW has also been supporting, and will continue to support, research into the potential impacts of climate change for inland and coastal flooding, to ensure that its work is informed by up-to-date and local scientific assessments, as well as data from the international programmes of research.
