Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 July 2016
514. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of flood risk and flood hazard maps which have been submitted to the OPW; the number which met the due date deadline in 2014; the number which are outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22306/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2014, the OPW reported the required flood maps for 50 of the 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs). This included the reporting of the maps for the Lee, Dodder and FEM-FRAM Pilot CFRAM Projects.
The OPW has engaged with the European Commission on an ongoing basis since 2013 in relation to the progress in Ireland with regard to producing and submitting its map requirements in line with the EU timeframe.
The OPW had signalled to the EU Commission that it could report its national predictive flood maps to meet its compliance with the EU Floods Directive but that, given the approach of the work being undertaken by the OPW, it did not consider doing so to be of benefit purely for the sake of reporting compliance.
All of the flood maps were published in November 2015 for public consultation under SIs 122 and 495 of 2010 and 2015 respectively. Since closure of the public consultation on 23 December 2015, the OPW has been updating and finalising the maps on the basis of the observations and objections submitted.
All of the flood risk and hazard maps were reported to the EU Commission in February 2016. Note that the delay from the intended December 2015 date quoted was due to the winter flooding of 2015/16 and the associated demands this placed on OPW resources.
It should be noted that the flood mapping being developed under the CFRAM Programme significantly exceeds the requirements of the EU 'Floods' Directive, as it is deemed that additional maps are required to optimise the benefits of the maps and ensure the robust development of flood risk management measures. The production of these additional maps has placed increased resource demands on the consultants undertaking the CFRAM Projects.
Examples of additional mapping includes:
- Preparation of flood maps for two potential future scenarios reflecting the potential impacts of climate change - This will permit the consideration of potential future adaptation requirements into the flood risk management planning process, and can also inform spatial planning and development management decision-making.
- Preparation of flood maps for eight flood event magnitudes/probabilities, where the Directive requires only two - This provides a significantly better understanding of flood risk, and can inform emergency response given the detailed understanding as to how a flood can develop and evolve.
- Flood Zone maps, which are not a requirement of the Directive - These maps correspond to the Flood Zones defined in the Guidelines on the Planning System and Flood Risk Management (DECLG/OPW, 2009), hence directly supporting sustainable planning and development, and the avoidance of building in floodplains.
In total, the OPW is producing approximately 40,000 flood maps through the National CFRAM Programme, of which only approximately 13,000 are required under the EU 'Floods' Directive.
