Frequently Asked Questions


 

A: The current best estimate is that construction will commence in 2025, but this is subject to change. The current estimated Project Programme (at the time of writing, January 2021) is as follows: 

Stage I - Options assessment, Scheme Development and Preliminary Design: Completed by end of 2021

Stage II - Detailed Design and Planning/Development Consent Processes: Completed by mid-2024

Stage III - Detailed Construction Design and Tender Process: Complete by mid-2025

Stage IV - Commence in 2025

The construction start date is dependent on a number of elements:

  • Feasibility of the scheme 
  • Statutory Consent 

The current estimate for the construction period is approx. 28 months, but this is dependent on the option chosen (i.e. how complex the construction may be).

A: The National Development Plan 2018-2027 commits to almost €1 billion in funding for flood relief schemes, with annual Capital funding for flood relief for the OPW doubling to €100m by 2021.

This is the best available information as of January 2021.

A: For the design and implementation of flood relief schemes, OPW's preferred approach is to adopt a "Managed Adaptive Approach".

This means that provision is made in the design of the scheme in the present day to allow it to be adapted or enhanced in the future to address climate change. The advantage of the "managed adaptive approach" is that it allows for future learning about the climate to inform on the design of the flood mitigation measures for future climate scenarios. The most technically, environmentally and economically viable flood protection scheme that addresses future flood risk can therefore be implemented at the appropriate point in time in the future.

The scheme will defend against the present-day flood risk and will be built to be adaptable to future climate change.

A: Natural Flood Management (NFM) measures will be considered during the Optioneering stage of the scheme.

A: The Office of Public Works has no responsibility for oversight or regulation of the insurance industry in relation to flood risk insurance, or to insurance matters generally. The Government's strategy is that in return to its investment on flood defence schemes in the most at risk communities, households and businesses should be able to access flood insurance. 

The Office of Public Works has a very specific role in the exchange of information with the insurance industry in relation to completed flood defence schemes, to an agreed standard of protection desired by the industry. 

A Memorandum of Understanding agreed on 24th March 2014, between the Office of Public Works and Insurance Ireland, the representative body for the insurance companies in Ireland has a specific focus on agreeing a basis on which information can be provided to the insurance industry on flood relief schemes completed by the OPW.

The Memorandum came into effect on 1st June 2014 with an initial tranche of data provided by the Office of Public Works to Insurance Ireland in respect of twelve completed flood defence schemes; showing the design, extent and nature of the protections offered by these works. Details of a further five schemes were provided in January 2015 and details of the Waterford Flood Defence Scheme was provided in 2017. 

Since that time the level of flood insurance cover for homes and small businesses for areas protected by OPW flood defence schemes has on average increased from 77% to 82% with the level of flood insurance cover reported to by up to 90% in areas benefitting from fixed defences. 

The Department Finance and the OPW meet with Insurance Ireland to address issues in relation to this transfer of data. It is important to note that while the Memorandum requires that insurers take full account of information provided by the OPW on completed flood defence schemes, it does not guarantee the availability of flood risk cover in the locations for which information has been provided by the OPW. The provision of insurance cover, the level of premiums charged, and the policy terms applied are a matter for individual insurers.

Should you have any insurance related complaints or queries, you may to contact Insurance Ireland's Insurance Information Service (01 676 1914 or feedback@insuranceireland.eu). In addition, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (01 567 7000) deals independently with unresolved complaints from consumers about their individual dealings with all financial service providers.

A: No, this has been a key consideration in our design. We have considered the impacts on the area as a whole, rather than focusing on the places that have flooded, to ensure that any works completed as part of this scheme do not increase the flood risk to surrounding lands.

A: You can look at the flood maps on the OPW's CFRAM website to see the flood extents for Naas and other towns within the CFRAM study area http://www.floodinfo.ie/

 


 

Postal address: Naas Flood Relief Scheme Project Manager - Arup, 50 Ringsend Road, Dublin

Telephone: +353 1 233 4455

Email: naasfrs@arup.com

 

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OPW's National Flood Information Portal - www.Floodinfo.ie