A total of €430 million is to be invested on flood defence measures over six years, the Irish Government has confirmed.

The flood protection capital programme 2016 – 2021 will build on the significant investment that has already been undertaken in flood relief works throughout the country over the last 20 years with over €410m invested in that period in flood risk management measures to provide protection to homes and businesses in major urban areas such as Dublin, Kilkenny, Fermoy, Mallow and Clonmel together with investment in many minor works projects to address more localised flooding problems. The further substantial investment announced today will allow this significant work programme to continue to address the most urgent flood risk problems facing the country.

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Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure Simon Harris said: "This country faces an enormous challenge in the years ahead in addressing the risk of flooding which continues to threaten many towns, villages and communities throughout the country. Over the last five to six years the OPW, in conjunction with local authorities and external experts, has been undertaking a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the flood risk facing the most vulnerable 300 communities in Ireland through the National CFRAM Programme. The first main results of that work in the form of draft flood risk maps for those 300 areas is due to be published shortly by way of a statutory public consultation process on the flood maps. I would urge as many people as possible to participate in this consultation process as the OPW is keen to get as many submissions and local views as possible as the role played by community, business and agricultural organisations is important in the process. When the flood risk maps are finalised this will allow the next crucial phase of the CFRAM Programme to be completed, which is the preparation of a flood risk management plan for each of the 300 most vulnerable areas. This plan will identify a prioritised set of measures, both structural and non structural, to address the flood risk in each area. Overall, these individual plans, when taken together, will form the core of a national plan to deal with the problem of flooding over the medium term."

(CD/MH)