Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----along with officials of the OPW. I hope to have a clearer picture then of where the flood relief scheme in Donegal town stands. From our perspective, and I wish to make this point very clear, because I know the Chairman of the committee is concerned with issues in Kilkenny as well, there is not an issue with schemes being held back or anything like that. We have been clear we will progress flood relief schemes that need to be advanced, and we are anxious to progress them.

We must, however, also be upfront with people. I will need a clear legislative reform agenda to be advanced by this Oireachtas if we are to make progress. I had a good discussion with Deputy Doherty’s colleague, Deputy Mairéad Farrell, concerning the situation in Galway. This type of problem is not unique to any part of the country. It was the same situation when former Deputy Moran held this portfolio. The problem has been going on for years. I refer not just to a problem with flood relief schemes but also to major public infrastructure projects. It does not matter who is in government. We must deal with the planning system in respect of the delivery of major public infrastructure projects and how quickly they can be realised.

I refer to the planning system, and the OPW is no different from any local authority or any public utility in respect of how quickly it can negotiate the process. I also want to make it clear that this is not an issue with money. I have more than €1.2 billion profiled for spending out to 2030. We are anxious to spend that allocation in my county, in Deputy Doherty’s county, in the Vice Chairman's county and elsewhere.