Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2016
244. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of funding for clearing the Flesk River, County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46523/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe river referred to by the Deputy does not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which would fall under the remit of the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. The OPW therefore has no responsibility for the maintenance of this river.
Glenflesk is one of 300 locations nationwide that is being assessed under the OPW's Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme the purpose of which is to implement the EU Floods Directive and national flood policy. The Programme involves the production of predictive flood risk and hazard mapping for each location, the development of appropriate and viable preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans. Under the South Western CFRAM Study, draft predictive flood maps for Glenflesk have been produced and were the subject of a Public Consultation Day in Glenflesk on 21 October 2014. Following the conclusion on 23 December 2015 of the national statutory public consultation on the draft flood maps, the maps will be finalised in early 2016. Work on the Preliminary flood risk management options phase of the CFRAM Study is underway. In that regard, a Public Consultation Day was held in Glenflesk on 8 December 2015. Further information is available on the South Western CFRAM Study website www.southwestcframstudy.ie. Flood Risk Management Plans are expected in mid 2016 for public consultation.
Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Kerry County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources. The Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. It is not available for repair of damaged infrastructure or for maintenance of existing flood defence or coastal protection assets.
