Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

When these consultants return their report and analysis, it then takes time for the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to interpret the results and then get ministerial approval. The real frustration within the Oireachtas is that there is no accountability for these environmental consultants. In the case of the Crossmolina flood-relief scheme, they have requested the Office of Public Works officials to provide supplementary information which they deemed to require another public consultation because the extent of the environmental impact studies did not meet their specific needs and requirements. That has significantly added to the timeline.

In 2015 Crossmolina was devastated with flooding. Now in 2024 we are no further on with it. When we look for progress updates, the Minister discusses it with his officials and they are none the wiser as to where it is at. That consent needs to be taken from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and placed with a more relevant Department, such as the Department of environment, where it can be monitored and assessed.