Minister O'Donovan Addresses the 22nd annual National Hydrology Conference in Athlone

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Mr. Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., today opened the 22nd annual National Hydrology Conference in Athlone. This event is organised by the Joint Irish National Committees of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme and the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage.

It is Ireland’s leading conference devoted to Hydrology, providing a unique forum for attendees to share policy developments, research results, and practical solutions to engineering hydrology issues. This year’s conference covers a range of important cross-cutting themes, including environmental hydrology, remote sensing, climate change adaptation, and flood risk management.

Addressing the conference delegates, Minister O’Donovan gave an overview of the lead role of the Office of Public Works in the area of Flood Risk Management and future planned work in the associated fields of coastal change and climate adaptation.

Minister O’Donovan said:

“This conference plays a vital role in providing a forum for presenting hydrological research and as a focal point for those wishing to advance their knowledge of both Irish and international hydrology. As an island nation, it is vital that we fully understand the range of behaviours of Irish catchments and their sometimes complicated hydrology.

The OPW’s expertise in hydrology will be needed for the successful delivery of state-of-the-art flood estimation techniques, flood relief schemes, flood forecasting, climate change adaptation, river restoration, natural flood retention measures. Our organisation is committed to working closely with our partners in the EPA, Met Éireann, Geological Survey Ireland, Inland Fisheries and the National Parks and Wildlife Service amongst others to deliver key projects that address flood risk in Ireland and protect people, properties, businesses and communities.”

ENDS

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Notes to Editors

Examples of the OPW’s work to address flood risk in Ireland include the following:

• The Flood Studies Update Research Programme led to the launch in 2014 of the Flood Studies Update Web Portal. This website is vital for professionals in the field of river engineering for the design of bridges and other structures in or near rivers.

• The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) was the largest study ever undertaken of our risk from significant flood events. Its output, the 29 Flood Risk Management Plans, gave the Government the evidence to progress some 150 flood relief schemes which are being funded as part of the Government's National Development Plan up to 2030 with an investment of €1.3bn. This level of funding reflects how motivated the Government is to protect people, properties, businesses and communities from their flooding risk.

• Since 2009, in excess of €55m in funding under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme is protecting 7,325 properties across 828 projects. The majority of these are outside of the CFRAM study areas. The scheme is a valuable source of funding for local authorities to address local flooding issues.

• The OPW is chairing the Interdepartmental group on National Coastal Change Management Strategy with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This Group is to bring forward options and recommendations for consideration by the Government.

• The first stage in the development of a new National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service is expected to be completed by the end of this year, and trialling of a pre-operational version of the service will begin early next year. Under a new National Flood Forecasting Division in Met Éireann and an independent Oversight Unit within the Office of Public Works, this service will provide flood forecasting from fluvial and coastal sources.

• OPW prepared a Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Flood Risk Management for the period 2019 – 2024 which was approved by Government in October 2019. The Sectoral Adaptation Plan sets out a long-term goal for adaptation in flood risk management to promote sustainable communities and to support our environment through the effective management of the potential impacts of climate change on flooding and flood risk.

Good progress is already being made on implementing some of the actions set out in the Plan, for example:

• maps of future flood extents under climate change scenarios have been published through our web-portal, floodinfo.ie;

• the OPW is providing funding to the Eastern and Midlands Climate Action Regional Office for research to further improve our understanding of the potential impacts of changing rainfall patterns on different types of catchment in different regions;

• assessments have begun into the adaptability of flood relief schemes currently under design and those already completed;

• the design brief for future schemes includes a requirement to consider and plan for adaptation needs.