Author(s): Tony Maguire
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Abstract: In Ireland the there are three Principal Response Agencies (PRAs): An Garda Siochana (Police), The Health Service Executive, The Local Authority. Under the national Framework for Major Emergency Planning1 the Local Authority is pre-nominated as the Lead PRA when the emergency is flooding. This is in addition to the local authority’s other “day to day” responsibilities which can have implications for flood related matters such as the Development Planning role (spatial planning); Sanitary Services provision (notably drainage roads&water) and flood protection (whether coastal, river or surface water). Other services which the local authority provides may also be pivotal when flooding occurs e. g. Fire Brigade; Civil Defence; Housing etc. Thus the Irish local authority has a broad remit in relation to flooding issues and moreover, as Dublin may be threatened by flooding from the sea; the river and intense rain this experience covers a wide variety of flood hazard types. The paper shows how dependence on historical precedence alone may expose a vulnerability to flooding from previously unsuspected hazards and (the paper) also presents an over-view of how undertaking Preliminary Flood Risk Assessments provide operational benefits in addition to achieving compliance with the provisions Article 4 of the Floods Directive. Dublin is in the process of unifying its diverse PFRAs and combining these into an integrated “Flood Atlas” . These are also being incorporated into the Dublin City Council Flood Emergency Plan 2 and which is supplementary to the overall flood strategy for the city.
Year: 2010