Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. The Deputy mentioned the tender for the children's science centre. It will go out to tender by the end of this year.

Before I leave that point, I concur with the Deputy's idea that we need to be spreading out the numbers right throughout the area. I have had the privilege of travelling to wonderful places around Ireland, only last week on a beautiful morning I visited venues during snowdrop week in Carlow. This is an event that one will find no place else and it is an absolutely priceless gem. We need to market it. We are working with Bord Fáilte on marketing it. This will be a help.

In regard to flooding and Cork city, I had the nice task of going to Cork twice. I have announced schemes for Cork four times, so Cork is doing. There have been some concerns about the treatment of the quays in the city scheme. On the basis that there was a great deal of interest in it, we have extended the consultation period. The Deputy can take that as a signal that the process is being considered. It is important to remember that this is the single biggest project, worth €140 million, that will be done in Ireland. We hope to have work on site by the end of the year. At the end of the day, the important thing is that we will work with the local people to find solutions to their concerns. That is why we have engaged in consultation but I am putting the pressure on the officials and the design team to drive on with the project because we need to build the defences because of the devastation in the past.

Deputy Sherlock mentioned the impact of Storm Frank on the N25. Work is in progress. The first port of call for somebody with an issue on that is the local authority. If it an issue for the OPW, it will come back to the OPW, but I think the contracting authority is the local authority.

On the issue of the voluntary home relocation scheme, I hope to bring that proposal with the relevant criteria to Cabinet for approval. I do not have the full detail but the Deputy mentioned the idea of somebody rebuilding a house on an elevated site. That can be considered provided that planning permission can be obtained for it and that it meets all the planning criteria and that it is not in a flood risk area. It will have to be through the planning process.