The Shannon and South Western River Basin districts plan is the first project to be discussed today, with deliberations running until September. Initial documents are available from the OPW's website and all details arising from the consultations will also be published online.

Minister Canney is now urging as many people as possible to attend the public consultations: “This process is a significant milestone in the programme.

“It is important therefore, that as many people as possible – local communities, businesses and environmental groups – engage in this consultation process.”

Further plans in the pipeline

Draft plans are currently in the final stages of public consultation for further projects, including the South Eastern and North Western Neagh Bann River Basin Districts and the Eastern and Western River Basin Districts.

Yesterday, the Irish Farmers Journal reported that the OPW had overspent by €6m on pilot flood management projects and failed to publish flood risk management plans to the EU’s flood directive.

Government funding

The Government is providing funding of €430m for flood risk management projects between 2016 and 2021, an increase of over 59% on the previous programme. Canney said in addition to the major flood work schemes, minor flood relief works will be implemented by local authorities to tackle more regional problems.

The Government changed its flood risk policy in recent years to be more reactive to flooding and preventing it before it happens by identifying the areas most at risk, known as areas for further assessment (AFA).

Read more

Flooding group fails to meet EU deadline and overspends by €6m

Shannon Flood Risk Working Group publishes draft of working programme for 2016