Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The project is specific. In an ideal world, notwithstanding the merits of the Arterial Drainage Act which Deputy Durkan alluded to a while ago, I would prefer to see these applications made to the likes of An Bord Pleanála. If an application for a flood relief scheme goes through Part 10 of the Local Government Act, we know the definite timeframes as a result. Unfortunately, with an historical development and how it came about in the first place, the Arterial Drainage Act does not have the timeframes the Deputy and I would expect from a normal planning application. We have discussed this internally, but we are not a planning authority. We have made our views known to the relevant planning authorities in respect of flood relief schemes. Over time it would be better to move it to An Bord Pleanála. While it might not give greater certainty with regard to outcome, it would give greater certainty with regard to time.