A high-level Government group set up to oversee the national co-ordination of flood risk management and response did not meet for a period of almost six years before July 2015, according a Comptroller and Auditor General report.
Another group tasked with overseeing the national catchment flood risk assessment and management programme (CFRAM) failed to meet in the four years to November 2014, the report reveals.
Pilot projects set up in 2005 to prepare flood maps and flood risk management plans for a number of river basins incurred delays of at least six years in each case and significantly exceeded cost estimates, the report says.
Delays associated with the CFRAM programme mean substantial capital expenditure continues to be incurred on an annual basis without the full benefit of comprehensive analysis and strategic plans, the report found.
The CFRAM programme was tasked with producing flood hazard maps, flood risk maps and flood management plans required under a timeframe set out in the 2007 EU floods directive.
The C&AG report said that although the Office of Public Works, the lead body on flooding, met the preliminary targets by identifying 300 areas that warranted further assessment, it had only submitted 50 flood risk and flood hazard maps by the due date of March 2014. The OPW said the remainder of the maps were submitted in February 2016.
The OPW also said meetings did not take place during the periods highlighted in the report because the CFRAM programme involved mainly technical work then.
A spokeswoman added that “the steering group is now meeting on a regular basis and is considering a whole of government approach to flood risk management”.
She also said that “capital investment by the OPW in flood relief measures to date has been guided by verified significant flood risk, and on the basis of robust economic appraisal.
“The OPW has in place a systematic and objective basis for prioritising the very many demands being made of it to undertake flood relief schemes in different locations throughout the country.”
Capital expenditure on flood risk management over the period 2005 to 2014 was €329 million. In September 2015 the Government announced details of a €430 million six year programme of capital investment on flood defence measures.
Following widespread flooding during winter 2015/2016, local authorities have submitted response and clean up claims to the Department of the Environment totalling €14.6 million, of which €8 million has been recouped. Insurance Ireland has estimated the cost of claims arising from the December 2015/January 2016 storms and floods to be €65m.
Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Simon Harris said he welcomed the C&AG report, which he said he expects to be discussed by the Dáil Public Accounts Committee in due course. He added that the inter-departmental group will report in mid-2016 “in line with the draft flood risk management plans”.
The Irish Farmers’ Association said the level of inaction of the interdepartmental group was “unacceptable” and raised concerns about the future performance of the recently established Shannon River Basin Co-ordination Group.
The Green Party said “The next Government must prioritise completing the Flood Risk Management Plan, and build on it”.
Independent TD for Longford/Westmeath Kevin “Boxer” Moran said he was horrified to read the contents of the report. “The fact that these people were not prepared to sit around the table and meet shows the group is not fit for purpose,” he said.
Insurance Ireland said called for: “speedy construction of flood defences in flood-prone areas, maintenance of flood defences, watercourses and drains as well as efficient flood warning systems and response protocols”.
Main points:
--Flood Management Policy Interdepartmental Co-ordination Group did not meet for a six year period.
--National CFRAM steering group did not meet for a four year period.
--Pilot projects set up in 2005 incurred delays of at least six years
--Only 50 of 300 flood risk and flood hazard maps were submitted by the due date in March 2014.
--Insurance Ireland estimates cost of claims arising from the December 2015/January 2016 storms and floods to be €65m.
