Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My only comments are to compliment the OPW on the work it does, particularly on flood relief schemes.

I am familiar with and worked tirelessly over the years to bring attention to two schemes in County Clare, one of which is the Ennis flood relief scheme, which has been successful. It was a detailed project with a number of phases, as Mr. Casey will recall, and it has worked exceptionally well in sympathy with the environment. It may not have happened as quickly as all of us would have liked, given the impact of certain flood events on commercial and domestic locations, but the quality and long-term viability of the work have been positive.

There was also a scheme on the River Shannon in the Springfield area of Clonlara, which I am sure Mr. Ó Dónaill and Mr. Casey were involved in at one point. We have seen some testing conditions in the past year or 18 months, with a significant increase in the quantity of water because of various events. The solution that was identified for Springfield has worked well. The OPW’s detailed planning, consideration of aquatic life and the environment, approach and painstaking work have paid dividends. I compliment the OPW and wish it well in its ongoing work in the area.