The OPW undertook the National Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme in consultation with the Local Authorities and supported by external engineering consultants. The objectives of the CFRAM Programme were to:
• identify and map the existing and potential future flood hazard and flood risk in the areas at potentially significant risk from flooding, called Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs),
• identify feasible structural and non-structural measures to effectively manage the assessed risk in each of the AFAs, and
• prepare a set of Flood Risk Management Plans, and associated Strategic Environmental and Habitats Directive (Appropriate) Assessments, that set out the proposed feasible measures and actions to manage the flood risk in these areas and their river catchments. These plans are available on www.floodinfo.ie
To support the CFRAM Programme, governance structures were put in place at both national and project level. These included both steering and stakeholder groups.
These areas and associated sources of flood risk were identified through the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA), which was a nationwide screening of flood risk. The final report of the PFRA and designation of the AFAs was published in March 2012 and is available on www.floodinfo.ie . The OPW designated 300 areas (AFAs) at potentially significant risk from flooding, which include in the order of 80% of properties at risk in Ireland from rivers and seas, the primary source of flooding in Ireland. Ninety of these areas are coastal areas.
The CFRAM Programme studied 80% of Ireland’s primary flood risk and included:
• detailed study of the flood risk for 300 communities, including 90 coastal. These were areas deemed in 2012 to be potentially at risk from flooding and required further assessment through the CFRAM.
• these 300 communities are home to some 3 million people – representing two thirds of Ireland’s population,
• 25% of towns studied have a population less than 500 people and over 50% less than 2,000,
• 6,700 kms of watercourse surveyed
• 68,000 properties in studied areas
Public Consultation was essential part of the CFRAM Programme and included:
• 500 public meetings with the local communities – in their communities.
• 300 meetings with stakeholders, including Local Authorities and representative organisations.
• 2 statutory consultations, in 2015 on draft flood maps and in 2016 on draft Flood Risk Management Plans.
• 1,000 observations received on the draft Flood Maps.
• Over 400 observations received on the draft Flood Risk Management Plans.
• Local Authorities, by reserve function, provided their observations at each stage.
The CFRAM was a point in time study. The OPW realises that flood risk can change and has an ongoing programme of work to continue to assess the flood risk across the country, from all flooding sources. As well as informing future measures and investment, this programme of work meets Ireland’s requirements under the EU Floods Directive.