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

I welcome this opportunity to consider this issue. The previous speaker has raised one of the issues I was going to raise and I will be happy to hear the answer to that. I want to raise the issue of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. Sometimes very minor works need to be carried out to alleviate flooding on farmland or dwellings, and the NPWS will impose its requirements and set out what it needs in terms of bird surveys, etc. I have seen it being a problem for local authorities. How much of a problem is it for the OPW? Is it delaying any significant OPW schemes? I have seen it hold up very minor works by local authorities.

While the OPW is the lead agency it seems to be under major restrictions.

The River Shannon was mentioned and there is an issue with the ESB and other bodies there. Would the OPW be happy to have the final say on everything relating to flood relief? In other words, the OPW could trump anyone else who had reasons for delaying works.

Mr. Smyth mentioned the list of rivers for which the OPW is responsible. Could he circulate the list on a constituency basis in order that I can determine which are the responsibility of the OPW and local authorities? At one time, they all came under the old Board of Works. What way are they divvied up?

Every year, flooding causing significant problems but in reply to a parliamentary question I tabled, I was informed there was a €7.6 million under spend in 2012 on flood relief works. I was curious about this given the works needed throughout the State. It is great that €225 million will be available over five years and I welcome that but could Mr. Smyth comment on this? Is there a ceiling on the amount a local authority can apply for?