OPW: Office of Public Works
Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí
Relevant Legislation
The legislation and regulations of most relevance to the OPW in its flood risk management activities fall into three categories Arterial Drainage, Environmental and Planning:
Arterial Drainage Acts
The most important of these acts are the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 and the Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act, 1995. These Acts provide for the drainage and improvement of land by the execution of works of arterial drainage and the maintenance of these works.
Environmental Legislation and Regulations
This category covers a wide range of Acts and Regulations, both National And European, dealing with the protection and conservation of the environment. The most important of which are the various Wildlife Acts, Natural Habitat Regulations, and the Water Framework Directive.
Planning and Development Management
The OPW is a statutory consultee for major spatial plans, such as Regional Planning Guidelines, and Development Plans, under the Planning Act, 2000.
The publication of the Guidelines on ‘The Planning System and Flood Risk Management’ (Draft for consultation, Sept. 2008) have emphasised the importance of this role for the OPW. Further information on the Guidelines, and the role of the OPW in reviewing Flood Risk Assessments and Spatial Plans and in providing support and information to assist the planning authorities in the performance of their duties, are available through this link: Guidelines for Planning Authorities