Mr. Enda O'Donovan:

I will answer in two parts. Our main issue with the OPW, which comprises a huge problem that the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, must take on, is time slippage. Every single community across the country could point to the amount of time slippage associated with employing consultants, etc. Let me give an example from my hometown, Skibbereen. We were flooded twice in 2009, in November and December. The Minister of State's office opted for another consultant's report on Skibbereen. The letter to this effect, issued in April 2010, states the Minister hoped to have the result by December 2010. The consultants were appointed to produce the report 12 months later. Therefore, the game plan was already a year behind. Every part of the report has been subject to delays, be they for four months, six months or 12 months. Instead of being a year behind schedule, the process is now probably two years behind. Ms Powell can give an example of something that had nothing to do with the flood relief scheme delaying an aspect of her project. My main issue with the OPW is time slippage and its management.

There is money being ring-fenced for flood relief schemes. We are happy that it is in place as this is important. However, I cannot understand how consultants, whose work one would imagine comprises the easy part of the process, are allowing time to slip for so long. The job of the OPW and the office of the Minister of State is to prevent time slippage.

My colleague, Mr. Brendan Dempsey, will talk about insurance.