Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the committee to deal with the Estimates. Part of the Minister of State's opening contribution dealt with the issue of flood management, which is a major concern for many communities, and particularly those communities subject to flooding over recent years. I will begin by asking the Minister of State some questions about the progression of the flood management strategy, and where we are at.

I will focus on Donegal town, which is a good example of where we have seen a lack of action in the last number of years. It is located on the mouth of the estuary of the River Eske. It meets the sea at Donegal Bay, and is susceptible to all types of flooding from rivers overtopping, flash and coastal. Flooding in Donegal town has, unfortunately, become more frequent in recent years. We had Storm Abigail in November 2015, Storm Desmond in December 2015, and Storm Lorenzo in October 2019, which flooded 22 properties. The catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, report estimates that there are 75 properties in the town which could be flooded in the future. Last year thankfully, and touch wood, was the only year in the last six years that Donegal town was not flooded. Imagine having a home or business in that town and the concern that you would have as a result, as you face into another winter. Given the type of climate we have at the minute, you may not even have to wait for a winter to experience the types of flash flooding we see in some cases.

The flood relief scheme for Donegal town was identified in the flood risk management plans, but it is neither an ongoing scheme nor is it at stage one, or the first phase of projects to be progressed. The only commitment given to date has been that it would be delivered within the timeline of the national development plan. The residents and the businesses in that town are fearful of further flooding and the impact it is going to have on their homes, commercial properties and on getting insurance. I raised this with the Minister of State on 20 January 2022, and he said at that time that he was going to come to Donegal in the next number of weeks. Maybe the Minister of State could update us on to that visit. He said he would have more information. I have not heard that "more information", and I do not think there has been any progression during that year, at least from a public dimension. Will the Minister of State give us some positive public news today on the Donegal town scheme? The Minister of State and I know that without a doubt, the scheme has to move to the next stage. Houses and properties are at risk. We also know some schemes are held up in judicial reviews or planning but this is not one of them. This is one where the community needs this to progress, and to be allowed to be advanced. I am pressing the Minister of State today: we need action on Donegal town. Can he provide a fuller timeframe for the Donegal town scheme?