Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group - Open Days on Work Programme

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Jessica Pitts
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1 Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group - Open Days on Work Programme Questions and Answers What is the purpose of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group? The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established in January 2016 by the Government to enhance on-going co-operation across all of the State Agencies involved with the River Shannon. The Working Group is: building on the existing work and commitment of all the State Agencies involved in flood risk focussed on ensuring the best possible level of co-ordination between all statutory bodies involved in flood management on the Shannon solutions focussed, designed to deliver the highest level of efficiencies to add value to the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. What are the Group s terms of reference? Informed by the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme and in order to further effectively manage and mitigate the flood risk on the Shannon catchment, the Group will: Develop and agree a Shannon Flood Risk Work Programme (with identified output KPIs) to focus and prioritise actions and activities to manage flood risk for the Shannon catchment. Provide co-ordinated direction and guidance to ensure delivery by State agencies, to meet their statutory role, of their constituent work programme in relation to flood risk management. Adopt and/or develop guidelines and protocols to inform and/or assist better coordination and co-operation by and between State Agencies. Informed by an audit of roles and responsibilities in relation to flood risk management on the Shannon catchment, seek clarity on any legal and policy issues to inform its work. Consult with other bodies, including voluntary bodies and communities. Provide guidance in relation to roles and responsibilities for non-statutory bodies involved in managing flood risk on the Shannon catchment. When agreed, monitor and report quarterly on the implementation of the Shannon Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP). Develop other structures as an efficient approach to progressing and informing its work. 1

2 Who is on the Group? The Group is comprised of the following membership which are at CEO level or equivalent and comes under the chairmanship of the Office of Public Works. Office of Public Works Local Authorities, represented by the City and County Management Association, Waterways Ireland Electricity Supply Board Inland Fisheries Ireland Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government Bord na Móna Environmental Protection Agency Irish Water The Attorney General s Office and other Government Departments may also participate, as requested by the Chairman. How many times has the Group met to date? The Group met on four occasions to date on 1 February, 2016, on 14 March, 2016, on 5 May, 2016 and on 12 July, What did the Group discuss at its meetings? In line with its terms of reference the Group has carried out an audit of the roles and responsibilities of State Agency organisations involved in flood management on the Shannon. produced a 2016 Work Programme which sets out the actions and activities to manage flood risk on the Shannon catchment. been working with the State s legal advisers to develop over the coming months guidance for riparian owners on their rights and responsibilities. Making arrangements for public consultation. Papers from the Group s meetings and the Group s Work programme have been published and are available from What is the Purpose of the Open Days? The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group has developed and published its Work Programme for The purpose of the Open Days are to discuss this with the public and all interested organisations, to 2

3 inform and answer any questions they have on the breadth of work taking place to manage the flood risk on the Shannon and provide detail on the approach to manage and co-ordinate the flood risk in the future. At the Open Days there were presentations on the Work Programme and also opportunities to meet people from each organisation represented on the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group. How were the Open Days publicised? In the weeks prior to the Open Days the OPW placed public notice advertisements in a range of national newspapers and on the OPW website. In addition to this, the OPW further publicised the Open Days through local media, including local radio stations and through various forms of social media. What is contained in the Group s 2016 Work Programme? The Group s Work Programme for 2016 sets out for each organisation involved with flood risk on the Shannon, their: role and areas of responsibilities, and actions and activities on the Shannon catchment for This Work Programme will be kept under review and will be updated from time-to-time. In particular, the Shannon Flood Risk Management Plan being developed by the Shannon CFRAM study will inform the future work programme and the monitoring and quarterly reporting arrangements. What has the Group Achieved so Far? Since the Government decision in January 2016 the Group at CEO levels has met on three occasions and a meeting is scheduled for July, The Group s priority was to develop and publish by St. Patrick s Day a 2016 Work Programme. This was delivered on 16 th March and published on the OPW website on that day. This Work Programme sets out the roles and responsibilities of each organisation, and the flood risk management works being conducted in the areas of channel maintenance, water level regulation and flows, hydrometric monitoring and flood mapping and planning. The Group has also been working with the State s legal team to start the development of guidance for riparian owners on their roles and responsibilities. The delivery of the draft Shannon CFRAM Flood Risk Management Plans is the core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon Catchment and form an important part of the next stage of the Group s work. These draft plans have been published for public consideration. The consultation period will run for 10 weeks up to Friday 23 September, Further details 3

4 are available on the dedicated consultation website Copies of the draft plans, related environmental assessments and an information leaflet are also available at the principal offices of each local authority. Observations or comments must be made directly in writing to the Office of Public Works or via the address How has the work of the Group Improved Co-ordination? It was clear that there was already a lot of co-operation and co-ordination between bodies, for example with maintaining water levels, in relation to environmental impact by working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland. The Group has identified opportunities for further co-ordination, for example in the area of sharing data on forecasting by use of data from the ESB and the OPW. Plans by Local Authorities have been informed by discussion with the OPW. The Shannon CFRAM Flood Risk Management Plans will inform future work by organisations and areas of further co-ordination. How will the work of the Group Add Value to the Shannon Flood Risk Management Plans? The Shannon CFRAM Study has engaged with all organisations represented on the Working Group and their input is informing the measures that can address in a sustainable, environmental and cost effective manner the flood risk for the areas of significant risk within the Shannon River Catchment. Implementing the CFRAM Flood Risk Management Plans through informed discussion by the Shannon Working Group will provide the most efficient means of delivering feasible flood risk solutions for the Shannon Catchment for those areas at most significant risk and impact from flooding. How will the work of this Group (and the Shannon CFRAM) help reduce flooding of farm land along the Shannon? The Shannon CFRAM Study is focussed on the areas of potentially significant flood risk that were identified through an assessment of areas known to have experienced flooding in the past and areas that may be subject to significant flooding in the future. These areas are typically the cities, towns and villages where property flooding is concentrated. The Shannon CFRAM Study is however also investigating ways in which the impact of flooding can be reduced in other areas along the Shannon. The development and implementation of the Flood Risk Management Plans is and will be facilitated through coordination with the organisations represented on the Working Group. What is the Shannon Catchment? The Shannon Catchment (River Basin District) includes the entire catchment of the River Shannon and its estuary, covering some 17,800km2 and approximately 20% of the island of 4

5 Ireland. The RBD covers parts of 17 counties: Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Kerry, Galway, Leitrim, Cavan, Sligo, Mayo, Cork, Laois, Meath and Fermanagh. Is the Group proposing to issue guidance to property owners on their rights and responsibilities on watercourses? The Group is working with the State s legal advisors, the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to the development of guidance on the rights and responsibilities of property owners in relation to watercourses. It is intended that guidance will be made available later in the year in this regard. Who is monitoring the water levels at Lough Allen and can the water level be reduced to alleviate flooding? Water levels in Lough Allen are regulated and controlled by the ESB at the sluice barrage at Bellantra, Drumshanbo. The current regulations have been in place for some time and result from discussions between the ESB, local farmers and community interests along with the navigation authority. Under these regulations, ESB endeavours to maintain the level in Lough Allen above MOD (Poolbeg) during the navigation season up to 31 st October each year. This is the minimum navigation level (ordinary summer level) required on the lake. To achieve this, it is necessary to maintain higher levels earlier in the season to allow for dry spells and at the same time ensure a level of water in Lough Allen for electricity generation. Waterways Ireland, as the navigation authority for the lake, requires Ordinary Summer Level to be maintained throughout the boating season, which operates up to 31 st October each year. In this regard, Waterways Ireland as the navigation authority will consider any proposal which is shown to reduce risk and has minimal effect on navigation. ESB are also willing to consider options which do not increase flood risk or dam and embankment safety. The question of reducing the levels at Lough Allen to alleviate flooding is one of the measures reviewed by the OPW engaged consultants in the context of the preliminary flood risk management options for the Shannon CFRAM. A number of queries were raised and suggestions made to alleviate flooding at the Open Days and many of these are being addressed in the draft Shannon Flood Risk Management Plans that have been published. Can I send a submission to the Group? Yes. Persons wishing to send a submission to the Group can do so by ing it to: info@opw.ie Written submissions may also be sent to: 5

6 The Secretary, Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-Ordination Working Group, The Office of Public Works Head Office Jonathan Swift Street Trim Co. Meath C15 NX36 What is the CFRAM Programme? The OPW is in the process of undertaking the Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme to give a clear and comprehensive picture of flood risk in areas at significant risk and impact of flooding and to set out how the risk can be managed effectively and sustainably. This is a strategic approach that recognises the need, in line with international best practice, to move to a more sustainable, planned and risk-based approach to dealing with significant flooding risks. The CFRAM Programme is being undertaken by the OPW in partnership with its consultants, Local Authorities and other stakeholders. For the purposes of the national CFRAM Programme, the country has been divided into 6 regional study areas based on river basin districts. Engineering consultants were appointed to all six study areas during 2011 and 2012, to carry out the work. The study areas are Shannon, East, South-East, South-West, West and combined North-West/Neagh-Bann. What is the current position on the Shannon CFRAM study? The Office of Public Works is working in partnership with their consultants, Local Authorities and other stakeholders to deliver the CFRAM Study for the Shannon River Basin District (RBD). The Shannon RBD includes the entire catchment of the River Shannon and its estuary, covering some 17,800km2 and 20% of the island of Ireland. The RBD covers parts of 17 counties: Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Kerry, Galway, Leitrim, Cavan, Sligo, Mayo, Cork, Laois, Meath and Fermanagh. The study is focussing on areas of significant flood risk and impact that were identified through an assessment of areas known to have experienced flooding in the past and areas that may be subject to significant flooding in the future. The final output from the study will be Catchment Flood Risk Management Plans, which will define the current and future flood risk in the areas of significant risk within the Shannon RBD and set out feasible measures that can address how this risk can be managed. Structural measures in this regard may include storage, flow diversion, flood defences increasing conveyance through cleaning and dredging of channels, 6

7 etc. Non-structural measures may include public awareness, flood forecasting, individual property resistance and resilience measures, etc. There are 66 locations in the Shannon River Basin District that are being assessed. Draft predictive flood maps have been produced and were the subject of 64 public consultation days between 23 rd October, 2013 and 15 th April 2015 and a statutory consultation during December A further 55 Public Consultation Days on preliminary options to manage flood risk on the Shannon Catchment were held between 30 th September 2015 and 11 th February Integrated Flood Risk Management Plans, containing specific measures that can address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risks identified in the Shannon River Basin District have been published for consultation. The consultation period will run for 10 weeks up to Friday 23 September, Further details are available on the dedicated consultation website Copies of the draft plans, related environmental assessments and an information leaflet are also available at the principal offices of each local authority. Observations or comments must be made directly in writing to the Office of Public Works or via the address draftplans@opw.ie. In the meantime, what is being done by Government to mitigate against flooding? The following major flood defence schemes along the Shannon have been completed by the OPW: Tullamore Derrymullen, Ballinasloe, Co Galway Ennis (Fergus Upper) Newcastlewest, Co Limerick Harry's Mall, Limerick Clancy Strand, Limerick Dromcollogher, Co Limerick Mulkear River, Cappamore, Co. Limerick Mulkear River, Newport, Co. Tipperary Sixmilebridge, Co Clare The following schemes along the Shannon are under design and construction Ennis Lower, due for completion by the end of 2016, snagging is ongoing. Ennis South, due for completion at the end of 2017, design currently under consideration Foynes, Limerick due for completion at the end of 2016, being completed by Limerick Co. Council. Kings Island Limerick is at an early design/planning stage for Limerick City and 7

8 County Council to undertake some advance works. Design due to be complete at the end of In recognition of the increased requirement for funding arising from the Plans, the Government, in September 2015, announced a Capital Programme covering the period and has increased significantly the amount of funding to be made available for flood mitigation initiatives to 430 million. The Programme will see the current annual allocation for this area of 45 million rise to 100 million by The Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of the scheme, which is open to all county Councils to apply for, is to provide funding to undertake minor works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. It is open to all local authorities to undertake local flood relief and coastal protection works and studies using their own resources also. Under the scheme, applications from County Councils are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than 500,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management Works that are normally the responsibility of the Councils will generally not be considered for OPW funding. Where such works would also mitigate the risk of flooding to properties, partial funding may be considered by the OPW. The Councils must be satisfied that the works will not have a significant impact on flood risk elsewhere and must comply with all environmental constraints. This Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website, It is not available for repair of damaged infrastructure or for maintenance of existing flood defence or coastal protection assets. It is open to a County Council pending the finalisation of the CFRAM Programme to submit a funding application under the Scheme. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management. It is also open to County Councils to carry out flood mitigation works using their own resources. 8

9 What initiatives have been put in place to assist households and businesses affected by flooding? The Department of Social Protection has provided emergency payment to households under its Humanitarian Assistance Scheme. To 27th April, 539 households had received almost 1.17m under this scheme in relation to last winter s floods. An allocation of 5m was made in 2015 to the Irish Red Cross to administer a temporary humanitarian scheme for small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting organisations who experienced flood damage to their properties in the period of December 2015-January Payments totalling around 3m have been made by the Irish Red Cross to in excess of 350 eligible applicants. What initiatives have been put in place to assist farms affected by flooding? The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine s Fodder Aid Scheme for 2016 was introduced to assist in response to the long term damage to fodder supplies arising from flooding. To date 326 applicants have been paid a total of 650,945. The Department has provided funding under the Flood Damage Relief Measure for farmers who have lost livestock, had to move livestock off-farm to rented premises for welfare reasons, or farmers who incurred significant damage to agricultural structures and associated fittings. To date 38 paid a total of 80,954. What is the role of the Inter-Departmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group? The terms of reference for this Group, as agreed by Government are to: explore the impact on individuals and communities of the OPW's Flood Risk Management Plan (to be implemented over ten years), recommend to Government policies and measures that would reduce the impact of flood risks on individual and communities, recommend to Government policies and measures that would support individual and communities be prepared and respond effectively to flood risks, identify the lead Department and/or agency for each recommended policy measure and estimate the financial and other resource implications of their recommendations. What policy initiatives is the Inter-Departmental Group developing? The Inter-Departmental Group has been asked by the Government to consider whole of Government approaches to flood risk. The Group is looking at a range of policy issues, including insurance, community resilience, incentives and administrative mechanisms for the introduction of an individual property protection scheme and voluntary home and farm building relocation schemes, guidance on land management issues, including forestry that may impact or benefit managing flood risk, managing the recovery phase and transition of response to recovery, a national flood forecasting and warning system and a review of the planning and development guidelines. 9

10 Is there a guide as to how to plan, prepare and protect against flooding? The OPW has published a booklet on what homeowners, businesses and farmers can do to prepare for floods, and reduce the impact of flood when they occur. This booklet is available from This website also contains important information and practical advice to all those whose homes or businesses may be at risk of flooding. It also contains contact information on organisations who can assist in the event of flooding. I can t get insurance on my house due to flood risk. What is Government doing to address this with the insurers? The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no role or function in relation to the oversight or regulation of insurance matters. The provision of insurance cover, the level of premiums charged and the policy terms applied are matters for individual insurers. Insurance companies make commercial decisions on the provision of insurance cover based on their assessment of the risks they would be accepting on a case-by-case basis. The Office of Public Works is providing relevant information and data to Insurance Ireland on completed OPW flood defence schemes to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability to the public of insurance against the risk of flooding. Data on 16 completed schemes has been provided to date. According to Insurance Ireland it takes 8-9 months for the data to be incorporated into their members systems and the benefits will be seen on the 12- month renewal cycle thereafter. Hence the full benefit of current data is not expected until the end of Government policy in relation to flood insurance is being considered by the Inter-Departmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Working Group. 10

Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report. Strategic Planning for Flood Risk Management

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