AQW 25186/11-15

Mr Mervyn Storey
Democratic Unionist Party
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 02/09/2013
Answered On Date: 17/09/2013
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an update on the development of flood risk management plans.

Answer:

Management of flood risk is determined by the EU Directive (2007/60/EC), commonly known as the Floods Directive. To date my Department, in its role as Competent Authority, completed the preliminary flood risk assessment in 2011. Information from this work then enabled the significant flood risk areas to be determined. Currently, detailed flood hazard and risk maps are being developed for these areas, which are to be prepared by 22nd December 2013. The maps will provide detail on the nature and extent of flooding from different sources within each settlement and this information will be included in the Flood Risk Management Plans to be drafted. To inform the plans, Local Flood Forums have been established for each river basin district. Statutory Agencies, Community Leaders and Elected Representatives with an interest in flood risk management are members of these forums. The plans are to be in draft by December 2014 and finalised a year later. The enclosed leaflet describes how the Floods Directive is being implemented and highlights the key delivery stages and milestones (a copy of the leaflet has been placed in the Assembly library).