Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our witnesses for attending and for the work they are doing providing the accommodation for civil servants across the country and for all the other projects the OPW is involved in.

On flood relief, the OPW report mentions, in particular, the Blackpool scheme and the Glashaboy flood relief scheme, both of which are in my constituency. We are waiting ten years for the Blackpool scheme and eight years for the Glashaboy scheme, which is in Glanmire. My understanding is that details of those projects have been submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and that there is only one person - I am open to correction on this - approving these projects for allowed funding. As a result, there is a significant delay. Can our guests outline to us the number of projects that have been submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the timescale for approvals given, and the number of projects the office is currently waiting to be approved?