The Planning System and Flood Risk Management - Offaly County ...

1.12 The key messages arising from these documents are that:5• the Government recognises the significance of flood risk and the needto integrate flood risk assessment and its management into the planningprocess in order to deliver a policy of avoidance or minimisation ofpotential future flood risk, using a combination of approaches comprisinga mix of risk evaluation, planning measures, flood forecasting andwarning, emergency-response development and capital projects of anengineering nature;• the need for proper planning and sustainable development may at thesame time require in exceptional circumstances some development inflood risk areas provided that the issue of flood risk is managedappropriately;• the implications for biodiversity should be considered at all stages offlood risk assessment and its management;• climate change is a dynamic process that requires a precautionaryapproach of avoidance or a flexible approach to ensure appropriateprovision for, or adaptation to, its potential consequences; and• Government investment in flood risk management under the NationalDevelopment Plan needs to be focused on the areas of greatest needthrough a strategically led flood risk management approach.1.13 In addition, current EU Directives recognise the importance of managing thewater environment on a catchment or river basin basis. The Water FrameworkDirective (WFD) 1 established the concept of river basin management embodiedin river basin management plans (RBMPs) to enable all rivers and coastalwaters to achieve good ecological status by 2015. The EU ‘Floods’ Directive 2requires the carrying out of a national preliminary flood risk assessment by2011 and the identification of areas where significant flood risk exists or mightbe considered likely to occur. Flood-hazard and flood risk maps of these areasare required by 2013 to form the basis for flood risk management objectivesand plans for areas with significant flood risks within each unit of managementby 2015. This Directive recognises the importance of land use managementand spatial planning as a key factor in flood risk management. Theimplementation of the WFD and “Floods” Directive must be co-ordinated toensure integrated river basin management.1.14 The need for compliance with the overarching requirements of EU law inparticular appropriate accessment under the Birds and Habitats Directives 3must be addressed at all stages in the assessment and management of highrisk habitats (see para. 3.19).1 Council Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Communityaction in the field of water policy (“the Water Framework Directive”) Official Journal L197/30-372 Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 onthe assessment and management of flood risk: Official Journal L288/27-34.3 Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 establishing the Birds Directive on theconservation of wild birds and Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 establishing theHabitats Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and floraPlanning Guidelines