Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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What happened in Spain was horrific, with a huge loss of life. During my time in the OPW, I have made flood relief schemes a significant priority. In that time, we have finalised a scheme for Midleton. We have finalised a €5.8 million individual property protection scheme for Midleton, to cater for 923 people, on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, the design of that scheme means that there is no outlay of costs to the homeowner or business owner. We looked at it in great detail and it is designed in a way whereby the council provides an independent assessor to look at the home or business. From that, reports come back and the council is involved in two elements. The council goes out to tender on Irish and European sites on the basis that one of the features that came back to us was that there may not be sufficient supply within the domestic market for individual property protection measures. We are dealing with the supply issue and, in terms of value for money, going out to tender. The council will then engage contractors to install them. This is a huge body of work in Midleton.

Schemes will take time because there are processes such as environmental ones that have to be gone through. I am very keen on interim measures. We put quite a number into Midleton and the surrounding areas such as Rathcormac, Mogeely and Castlemartyr. Deputy O'Connor will be very familiar with these. More recently I have been to Bantry and we are looking at the issues there. There is a mains scheme and there is also a culvert, which is in a very bad state of repair, going through the town. We are looking at ways to expedite its repair. That will go for planning by Cork County Council very shortly. We are also looking at interim measures. We have had two meetings with Cork County Council over the last few weeks. We have a further meeting scheduled tomorrow. The OPW chairs an interdepartmental flood policy co-ordination group. At the most recent meeting, I invited all the local authorities to attend to discuss flood preparedness. The CEOs and directors of services of the local authorities attended and we discussed the supports they required and their readiness. They assured me that they were ready. One of the key elements that came out of the meeting was communication. With Storm Ashley Galway City Council did a great body of work. The council did a huge amount of communication in a timely manner on road closures and road openings. Having dealt with the local authorities and our own staff in the OPW, I am satisfied that we are taking very co-ordinated measures on flood relief schemes.

The relief schemes for Crossmolina, King's Island in Limerick and Castleconnell are going ahead. Kilkee is proceeding to planning. We have all these schemes and I want to see them continue to be rolled out. It is a huge priority for us.