Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2021
68. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works can give advice and assistance to homeowners likely to be prone to flooding as a result of climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62215/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW), through its Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, carried out the largest ever flood risk study in Ireland to date. The study assessed 80% of properties at risk from Ireland’s main causes of flooding. The OPW Flood Maps are a key output of the study together with 29 Flood Risk Management Plans, with the proposed flood relief measures to address the flood risk in each community studied.
The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to 2030 to protect properties in threatened communities from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities, to treble to nearly 90 the number of schemes at design and construction at this time.
The CFRAM study included an assessment of the flood risk that could arise in the future due to climate change and all new flood relief schemes are being designed and built to allow for adaptation for the potential impacts of climate change.
Details on the flood relief schemes completed, underway and planned – and a link to individual flood relief scheme websites is available at www.floodinfo.ie/scheme-info
The OPW has a dedicated website www.flooding.ie which provides guidance to the public on how to plan and prepare to protect themselves and their livelihoods in advance of a flood event. The website also provides guidance on managing during and after a flood event.
