16.—(1) The Department shall prepare a flood risk management plan for the river basin district or a set of such plans co-ordinated at the level of that district.
(2) The Department shall ensure co-ordination with the relevant competent authority in the Republic of Ireland with the aim of preparing a single flood risk management plan for each international river basin district or a set of such plans co-ordinated at the level of each international river basin district.
(3) Where it appears to the Department that plans for an international river basin district cannot be prepared in accordance with paragraph (2), the Department shall prepare a flood risk management plan or a set of such plans for the part of the international river basin district lying within Northern Ireland.
(4) Plans prepared under paragraph (3) shall—
(a)as far as possible, be co-ordinated at the level of the international river basin district; and
(b)not include measures which, by their extent and impact, significantly increase flood risks upstream or downstream in the Republic of Ireland unless the measures have been co-ordinated with the relevant competent authority in the Republic of Ireland and an agreed solution has been found.
(5) For the purposes of preparing a flood risk management plan, the Department shall—
(a)set objectives for the management of flood risks for the areas identified under regulation 8(1) focusing on the reduction of potential adverse consequences of flooding for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity; and
(b)identify measures to achieve those objectives.
(6) A flood risk management plan shall include the matters specified in Part I of Schedule 3.
(7) A flood risk management plan may contain or be accompanied by such other maps, diagrams, illustrations and descriptive matter as the Department considers appropriate for the purpose of explaining or illustrating any matter in the plan.
(8) Any such maps, diagrams, illustrations and descriptive matter are to be treated as forming part of the plan and references to such a plan are to be construed accordingly.
(9) A flood risk management plan shall be prepared and published by 22nd December 2015.