Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I asked a parliamentary question because someone said to me that there may be unspent money. I tabled the question approximately three months ago. At that stage, €7.7 million or €7.9 million for flood relief works was unspent by the OPW. Although I do not know for sure, I suspect this is partly attributable to time slippage and the hiring of consultants, as referred to by Mr. O'Donovan.

In some cases, the approach of the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been an issue. I do know now whether there has been a direct impact on some of the town relief schemes. We have met those concerned in the Shannon area. Not only is the National Parks and Wildlife Service in danger of wiping out the corncrake, it is in danger of wiping out human habitation along the River Shannon owing to the way it does things. In the case of the Shannon, for example, it is supposed to be trying to protect wildlife but the rigorous way it operates is such that the callows are being caused to flood, thereby washing away the corncrakes. The effect is the opposite to that desired. In the case of minor works, which might involve the removal of a bow of a tree and or one trailer load of silt from one point in a river, at a cost of €1,000 and requiring half a day's work with a Hymac and dump truck, the National Parks and Wildlife Service requires an expensive bird survey. It must be up to date and the one the council will have obtained the preceding year for the same stretch of river will not suffice. This is the type of messing around that occurs. In fairness to the OPW, this type of codology may be partly why the money is not being drawn down by it.

The attendance of the delegates today has crystallised my frustration over the whole process. In other countries, if something needs to be done a team is put in place and all blockages are removed. The first step taken is to protect the towns and human habitation, and wildlife is protected next. That is the pecking order. The problems are sorted out and dealt with. To get anything done in Ireland, however, involves a different approach.

I noted the progress of a piece of paper around the OPW for four or five months last year and know what it can be like. Having the piece of paper shifted from one desk to the next can take a hell of a long time. The paper did not pertain to flooding but to a different matter. Unless the State organises its affairs better and clears away the blockages, people such as the delegates will have sleepless nights. We must try to identify the locations of the blockages. I proposed to this committee some weeks ago that the Minister address the flood relief issue in the Dáil. We should have a serious debate on it and use the information the delegates are giving us.