Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Report

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028

The CFRAM Programme comprises three phases as follows:  The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment 1 (PFRA) mapping exercise, which was completed in 2012;  The CFRAM Studies and parallel activities, with Flood Risk Management Plans finalised in 2018; and  Implementation and Review. The Programme provides for three main consultative stages as follows:  Consultation for the PFRA mapping that was adopted in 2012;  Consultation for Flood Extent mapping, that was finalised in 2016 for inclusion in Flood Risk Management Plans; and  Consultation for Flood Risk Management Plans, that were adopted in 2018. The OPW is the lead agency for flood risk management in Ireland. The coordination and implementation of Government policy on the management of flood risk in Ireland is part of its responsibility. The European Communities (Assessment and Management of Flood Risks) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 122) identifies the Commissioners of Public Works as the ‘competent authority’ with overall responsibility for implementation of the Floods Directive 2007/60/EC. The OPW is the principal agency involved in the preparation of CFRAM Studies. 1.4.4 Flood Risk Management Guidelines 1.4.4.1 Introduction In 2009, the OPW and the then Department of the Environment and Local Government (DEHLG) published Guidelines on flood risk management for planning authorities entitled The Planning System and Flood Risk Management - Guidelines for Planning Authorities . The Guidelines introduce mechanisms for the incorporation of flood risk identification, assessment and management into the planning process. Implementation of the Guidelines is intended to be achieved through actions at the national, regional, local authority and site-specific levels. Planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to the Guidelines in carrying out their functions under the Planning Acts. The core objectives of the Guidelines are to:  Avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding;  Avoid new developments increasing flood risk elsewhere, including that which may arise from surface water run-off;  Ensure effective management of residual risks for development permitted in floodplains;  Avoid unnecessary restriction of national, regional or local economic and social growth;  Improve the understanding of flood risk among relevant stakeholders; and  Ensure that the requirements of EU and national law in relation to the natural environment and nature conservation are complied with at all stages of flood risk management. 1.4.4.2 Principles of Flood Risk Management The key principles of flood risk management set out in the flood Guidelines are to:  Avoid development that will be at risk of flooding or that will increase the flooding risk elsewhere, where possible;  Substitute less vulnerable uses, where avoidance is not possible; and  Mitigate and manage the risk, where avoidance and substitution are not possible.

1 The PFRAs identified areas at risk of significant flooding and includes maps showing areas deemed to be at risk. The areas deemed to be most significant risk, where the flood risk that is of particular concern nationally, are identified as Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs). AFAs were identified within the Plan area include Cork City, Douglas, Glanmire, Togher and Tower.

CAAS for Cork City Council