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

If the Deputy asks what might be perceived to be a simplistic question on a complicated process for people who will be listening to this debate, watching it on Facebook or using it for videos, it deserves an honest answer. I can no more short-circuit the planning process for a major climate adaptation scheme than a person applying to Meath County Council can short-circuit the planning process for the building of a house. That would be wide open to judicial review. That has happened in the past. We have had good reason to be careful in apportioning resources, particularly in the area of environmental constraints. Many of the resources required in this sector have to be sourced from outside and are limited in nature. That is a limiting factor not only for Ireland. It is the same in the UK and continental Europe. There are not that many people with experience of hydraulic engineering available to us even within our own Department. It is not a money issue and I would not like it said that it is. The Department is adequately resourced in terms of our financial capacity.