Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2024
128. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the outcome of recent discussions with the authorities in Northern Ireland in relation to flooding problems in Cavan and Fermanagh caused by the River Erne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5735/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe OPW has an on-going relationship with the former Rivers Agency (now part of the Dept. for Infrastructure, Rivers, Northern Ireland) (DfI Rivers), which is the Competent Authority for the implementation of the 'Floods' Directive in Northern Ireland.
In 2009, the OPW and Dfl Rivers agreed to establish a Cross-Border Co-ordination Group to co-ordinate the implementation of the ‘EU Floods Directive’ across the border. This work was supported by a Cross-Border Technical Co-ordination Group. These groups have met on numerous occasions since to coordinate on the identification of Areas of Potentially Significant Flood Risk, to share information and agree approaches to the production of flood mapping in border areas and to coordinate on the identification of measures and the preparation of Plans. A bi-lateral meeting which was planned for 6 November, 2023 was deferred due to flooding in Northern Ireland and the deferred meeting to be held on 31 January, 2024 was cancelled due to illness. A new date for a bi-lateral meeting will be agreed shortly.
The Erne Catchment was assessed under the OPW’s Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme (CFRAM), in close co-operation with DfI Rivers. The study considered increasing watercourse conveyance of the Erne system to lower water levels as a measure to reduce flood risk. This study revealed that water levels in the majority of the Erne catchment in Ireland, remain unchanged regardless of any works that could be carried out in Northern Ireland.
DfI Rivers was represented throughout the CFRAM study on the relevant project steering, progress and stakeholder’s groups as well as on the National CFRAM Steering Group. DfI Rivers is currently a member of the National Floods Directive Coordination Group, which has met on 9 occasions since November 2018 with the last meeting held on 29 November, 2023.
More general cross-border coordination has also been ongoing in the field of flood risk management through bilateral meetings of the two organisations for many years, through the Irish National Hydrometric Working Group and Joint National Committee of the International Hydrological Programme and the International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage, which DfI Rivers are members of. This continued close co-operation has provided the opportunity for co-operation in areas such as flood forecasting and hydrometric monitoring.
The OPW does not have Arterial Drainage Schemes on the River Erne system in County Cavan and is not responsible for channel maintenance in the area in accordance with its statutory requirements under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. However, parts of the Erne Catchment are a Drainage District for which the local authority is responsible for ongoing maintenance.
