Catchment Flood Risk Assessment & Management Programme (CFRAM)
In 2012 the Office of Public Works (OPW) commenced an extensive study of flood risk areas in conjunction with local authorities. It identified 300 communities most likely to be impacted from future flooding, including 90 coastal communities. Nationally, the CFRAM Progamme studied 80% of our primary cause of flooding in communities that house almost two thirds of our population. While the Programme assessed flood risk in all our major cities, approximately half of the communities assessed had populations of less than 2,000 people and one quarter had populations of less than 500 people.
The CFRAM Programme is now providing us with the evidence to plan nationally to address flood risk, including more evidence to inform planning and development decisions and emergency response planning. The Commissioners of Public Works formally adopted the Flood Risk Management Plans on 14th March 2018. These Plans were approved by Mr. Paschal Donohue TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 16th April, 2018.
The CFRAM was a national study, the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken and followed best practice. The Flood Risk Management Plans set out the flood relief schemes that have already been constructed and those that are currently underway and provide the outline of 118 new proposed schemes. Together these schemes can protect 95% of properties assessed to be at risk. The Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence to inform how future Government investment can return greatest benefit nationally.
On 3rd May the Minister of State for the OPW and Flood Relief announced he was making €14m available to the local authority sector to lead on progressing 31 of these 118 schemes to detailed design. Nationally there are 29 Flood Risk Management Plans which are developed across 6 River Basin Districts and provide for the development of these 118 flood relief schemes. There are 4 schemes proposed for Waterford, which are for Aglish, Ballyduff, Dungarvan and Environs and Ringphuca.
An initial allocation of €257 million was announced for 50 of the 118 schemes to proceed to detailed design and construction stage, including two schemes in Waterford – Ballyduff and Aglish.
All of these schemes will be managed by Waterford City and County Council, involving finalising designs and flood protection measures, further public consultation, completing the Part 8 Process, appointment of contractor and proceeding to construction. The Flood Risk Management Plans for Aglish, Ballyduff, Dungarvan and Environs and Ringphuca were formally adopted by the Plenary Council at their meeting on 12th July, 2018.
Read CFRAM Report hereDetails of the Schemes have also been published on the OPW website at www.floodinfo.ie If you have any queries in relation to the schemes, please contact the Roads Department.
