Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is fair to say the eyes of the world are not on these proceedings, but there are a few issues I wish to raise with the OPW, the representatives of which I thank for being here. The OPW is a powerful organisation which reaches into every county and a great many communities.

The work it carries out impacts on those communities.

I wish to raise three issues. One is flooding and the catchment flood risk assessment and management programme, CFRAM, which is probably the OPW's flagship project in respect of flooding. There is a jaundiced view in Cork, which tends to happen when an area is repeatedly flooded and there is a perception that no practical steps have been taken. What is the position regarding Cork city flood relief measures? There is a public consultation but when can people expect to see activity on addressing the root causes of recurring flooding in the city, given the huge adverse impact it is having on business and residential areas? There is view about CFRAM that a great deal of money has been spent on consultants and reports but there are very few practical measures, particularly in the Cork area? I realise that is not the case elsewhere and that there have been some works in west Cork, but perhaps Ms McGrath would give me an update on the city.