Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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371. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to revert to this Deputy on a matter regarding planned works on a river (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11667/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The River Deel Catchment Drainage Scheme was constructed in the 1960s by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to provide drainage outfall for agricultural purposes. In line with its statutory responsibility, the OPW continues to maintain the Scheme in proper repair and effective condition. The Scheme was not designed to a standard that would be appropriate for the protection of residential development from flooding.

The OPW’s programme of Arterial Drainage Maintenance includes responsibility for 11,500 km of channel, 730 km of embankments, some 18,500 bridges and 750 ancillary structures such as sluice gates, pumping stations and tidal barrages. The programme of planned maintenance works for the current year does not include any works at the location mentioned by the Deputy.

Rathkeale is an Area for Further Assessment (AFA) being assessed under the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk and Management (CFRAM) study. The CFRAM Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW, working in partnership with local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans.

Under the Shannon CFRAM Study, draft predictive flood maps have been produced and were the subject of a Public Consultation event in Rathkeale on 6 November 2014. In addition, on 7 October, 2015 a further Public Consultation event was held to present preliminary options to manage the assessed flood risks in Rathkeale AFA. The draft maps are now being finalised following the conclusion of the national statutory public consultation process on 23 December, 2015.

Following the finalisation of the flood mapping and the identification of preliminary flood risk management options, the final output from this important project will be integrated Flood Risk Management Plans containing specific measures that can address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risks identified. The draft Plans will include a prioritised list of measures to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner. These Plans will be available for public consultation in 2016.

The Government recently announced increased levels of investment in the area of flood relief as part of the overall Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 and this investment programme will allow for consideration of measures arising from the Plans.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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372. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to revert to this Deputy on a matter regarding the protection of properties (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11668/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Many properties within the town of Adare, including the development mentioned by the Deputy, lie within the “Benefiting Area” or floodplain of the River Maigue Catchment Drainage Scheme (CDS) which is under the statutory care of the Commissioners of Public Works. The embankments protecting the Maigue Catchment floodplain were constructed to a standard to protect agricultural land from flooding and, as such, do not confer the level of protection usually associated with residential developments.

Considerable work has been done by the OPW in the last twelve years to strengthen the embankments. In recent years, sluice outfall structures at Adare have been replaced/upgraded and a new trash grid has been installed. OPW will continue to maintain the Maigue CDS to a standard above that for which it was originally designed.

Adare is an Area for Further Assessment (AFA) being assessed under the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk and Management (CFRAM) study. The CFRAM Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the Office of Public Works, working in partnership with local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans.

Under the Shannon CFRAM Study, draft predictive flood maps have been produced and were the subject of a Public Consultation event in Adare on 14th April, 2015. In addition, on 9th December, 2015 a further Public Consultation event was held to present preliminary options to manage the assessed flood risks in Adare AFA. The draft maps are now being finalised following the conclusion of the national statutory public consultation process on 23rd December, 2015.

Following the finalisation of the flood mapping and the identification of preliminary flood risk management options, the final output from this important project will be integrated Flood Risk Management Plans containing specific measures that can address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risks identified. The draft Plans will include a prioritised list of measures to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner. These Plans will be available for public consultation in 2016.

The Government recently announced increased levels of investment in the area of flood relief as part of the overall Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 and this investment programme will allow for consideration of measures arising from the Plans.