James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the second round of questions. I want to touch on a matter Deputy Colm Burke raised. Deputy Dillon raised it with the witnesses as well. They will be aware that my constituency was absolutely annihilated by flooding and that the damage is extraordinary. The immediate estimate is, to our knowledge, €54 million for roads alone. Bringing the debate back to the OPW, very serious questions have been raised in Midleton about the pace of delivery of the flood relief scheme. In addition to Midleton, I want to raise with the witnesses Rathcormac. The flood defence schemes, as the witnesses will know, are done up in tranches. Deputy Burke made a very pertinent point in what he said. As to when we prioritise the expenditure on these projects, what is after occurring in my area is a very good indication of what the consequence is when that investment is not made immediately because the ramifications of such now mean that the costs for the taxpayer, the public, which, ultimately, nationwide, are very much involved in the financial ramifications of the flood damage, are in the high tens of millions. When one adds up the damage to over 350 homes in the area, the more than 200 businesses that have been damaged and the road infrastructure, bridges and other infrastructure that have been very heavily damaged, it is an eye-watering sum of money. Much of that could have been prevented, particularly in Midleton, if the flood defences were advanced. I will be very critical about the pace of delivery. These schemes have been the subject of public consultation since the middle of the last decade, yet today it is likely that the public will have to wait for a further four, five or six years, hopefully without any objections, for these schemes to advance. I know that is not within the remit Mr. Moloney's Department, but when it comes to the administration, the prioritisation and the funding of these projects, it does pertain to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the OPW, under its scope. I just wanted to make that point first.

I will ask a couple of questions. Would it be possible for the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide a report on where that scheme has been for the past number of years? This is my first opportunity to raise this with the Department since it happened. I would like to get a full briefing, if possible, on why, to this day, that flood scheme has not been advanced. Additionally, I want to ask about Rathcormac. The projects are in a second tranche but the village is flooded. Fourteen homes and businesses there were flooded. Is there any prioritisation mechanism available in the Department because of that? I want to let the witnesses come back on those points first, if that is okay.