Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2012
75. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the progress of the CRFAM study for the River Lee and in particular the consideration of the flooding risks to Cork City; when the study will be finalised; when an action plan will be put in place to address the flood risks in Cork and surrounding suburbs such as Douglas and Togher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46593/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe River Lee catchment flood risk management plan, (CFRMP) is the primary output of this pilot project for the national Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme.
The draft CFRMP was exhibited for public consultation soon after the significant November 2009 flood event. Since 2010 substantial resources have been assigned to analysing the data of the November 2009 event and re-calibrating the hydraulic models of the Lower Lee catchment to take account of this significant dataset. This exercise of review, updating and re-calibration will be completed before the end of this year.
In parallel with this detailed exercise, the national CFRAM programme has progressed, with all six CFRAM contracts now commissioned to cover the national river catchments. Mott McDonald has been appointed as consultants for the South -West CFRAM Study which includes the area of the Lee catchment and Cork City and environs. The substantial work almost complete on the Lee CFRAM will be reviewed and incorporated into the South-West CFRAM study which is due for completion at end-2015 in accordance with the EU Floods Directive.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is continuing to work with Cork City Council and Cork County Council to advance mitigation measures in Cork City and surrounding areas where significant flood risk has already been identified. OPW has, within the past week, received tenders for consultants to bring forward measures for the Lower Lee and Blackpool areas, and it is expected that a preferred option will be identified for these areas by the second half of 2013. In addition, it has been agreed that Cork County Council will take the lead in undertaking detailed studies to investigate potential mitigation options for a number of locations including Douglas and Togher, with funding from the OPW. These studies will build on and develop the analysis carried out as part of the River Lee CFRAM Study as appropriate.
Pending the completion of the detailed studies, it would be open to the Councils to submit applications for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Works scheme for any small-scale interim measures that may be identified, subject to such measures meeting the criteria of that scheme, being compatible with the CFRAM studies and the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.
