Clare McGrath, Chairman of the of the Office of Public Works, chaired the second meeting of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group in Athlone Civic Offices, Athlone, Co. Westmeath on 14 March, 2016. The first meeting of the Working Group was held on 1 February, 2016.
The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established to enhance on-going co-operation across all of the State Agencies involved with the River Shannon. The membership and full terms of reference are detailed below.
Clare McGrath stated that “the Working Group is building on the existing work and commitment of all the State Agencies involved in flood risk. It is focussed on ensuring the best possible level of co-ordination between all statutory bodies involved in flood management on the Shannon. The Group is solutions focussed, designed to deliver the highest level of efficiencies to add value to the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.”
Clare McGrath went on to say that “the Working Group has conducted an audit of the roles and responsibilities of State Agency organisations and at its meeting in Athlone finalised its Shannon Flood Risk Work Programme for 2016. This Work Programme which is now being published on www.opw.ie provides a focus and prioritises actions and activities to manage flood risk for the Shannon catchment”.
The Work Programme will be kept under review and will be updated from time-to-time. In addition, the Group has agreed a process for wider consultation, including with non-statutory bodies, and will hold an open day on the Group’s Work Programme during April. The Group is also considering the development of appropriate guidance that will set out more clearly the rights and responsibilities of non-statutory bodies.
The Chairman concluded that “The publication of the Group’s Work Programme is a significant step forward in the enhancement of co-ordination and co-operation between the State agencies on the management and mitigation of flood risk on the Shannon catchment. It will be built upon through co-ordinated direction and guidance and through the development of protocols. Monitoring and quarterly reporting arrangements will also be put in place through the Shannon CFRAM Plan”.
Notes to Editors:
Membership of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-Ordination Working Group:
Members of the Group are at CEO level or equivalent with the following State Agencies:
• Office of Public Works
• Local Authorities, represented by the City and County Managers Association,
• Waterways Ireland
• Electricity Supply Board
• Inland Fisheries Ireland
• Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
• Bord na Mona
• Environment Protection Agency
• Irish Water
The Attorney General’s Office and other Government Departments may also participate, as requested by the Chairman.
Terms of Reference of the Group:
Informed by the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme and in order to further effectively manage and mitigate the flood risk on the Shannon catchment, the Group will:
• Develop and agree a Shannon Flood Risk Work Programme (with identified output KPI’s) to focus and prioritise actions and activities to manage flood risk for the Shannon catchment.
• Provide coordinated direction and guidance to ensure delivery by State agencies, to meet their statutory role, of their constituent work programme in relation to flood risk management.
• Adopt and/or develop guidelines and protocols to inform and/or assist better co-ordination and co-operation by and between State Agencies.
• Informed by an audit of roles and responsibilities in relation to flood risk management on the Shannon catchment, seek clarity on any legal and policy issues to inform its work.
• Consult with other bodies, including voluntary bodies and communities.
• Provide guidance in relation to roles and responsibilities for non-statutory bodies involved in managing flood risk on the Shannon catchment.
• When agreed, monitor and report quarterly on the implementation of the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Plan.
• Develop other structures as an efficient approach to progressing and informing its work.
Papers from Working Group Meetings.
As indicated in the Chairman’s Press Release of 1 February, 2016 documentation, including the Agenda, Minutes and other material relating to the first meeting of the Group is being posted to the OPW website - www.opw.ie. Further documentation, including material from other meetings of the Group, will be posted to this site in due course.