Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach
Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary)
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source
Workforce planning is a means to ensure that we have the required essential skills. Ireland lost a significant number of people from the construction industry to countries like Australia and Canada during the last crash. We could do with some of these people back now. A campaign to try to bring some of those people home would benefit capital projects in a significant way.
On the Midleton situation, I have spoken to some of the homeowners there. Some have not been able to move back into their houses, while others have but the houses are in terrible condition. It is very difficult to live in a house which has been considerably damaged by flooding. Some people said they have not been contacted by anybody as yet regarding help. The Minister of State mentioned the complexities of fixing an issue like this. Could I suggest that we develop a war cabinet, so to speak? This could be made up of different organisations such as Cork County Council, the OPW, Irish Water, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, farming groups, businesses and residents. Something like this would allow us to expedite relief in the area because between now and 2029 there most likely will be a serious flood that will cause more damage in Midleton.
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