Flood Risk Assessment
114. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will recommend that all local authorities would require all development in medium and high risk areas to have flood risk assessments. [5348/06]
161. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will recommend that all local authorities produce county flood risk maps categorising low, medium and high areas. [5347/06]
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. B. O’Keeffe): I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 161 together.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities may include in their development plans objectives regulating, restricting or controlling development in areas at risk of flooding. Where development is proposed in an area at risk of flooding, it is a matter for each planning authority to evaluate such risk, on the basis of a flood risk assessment where appropriate and planning permission may either be refused or, if granted, can be made subject to conditions requiring the implementation of measures necessary to alleviate or avoid damage due to flooding.
It is my intention to publish shortly, in draft form for public consultation, guidelines for planning authorities on the preparation of development plans. These guidelines will advise that, in addressing the issue of flooding, development plans should identify areas that experience or are at risk from flooding, drawing from the process of flood risk mapping currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Works. Local development plan policies should then outline the considerations that will arise with development within or near such areas from the point of view of managing existing flood risks or avoiding the generation of new flood risks.
The guidelines will also suggest that development plan policies dealing with flooding also need to recognise the uncertainties inherent in the prediction of flooding and the fact that flood risk is expected to increase as a result of climate change. Development plan objectives could also include policies indicating that developers will be required to support the funding of flood defences needed for particular developments, either partially or fully, depending on the circumstances involved. My Department will welcome comments or suggestions on this or any other aspect of the draft guidelines following their publication.