Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is. An additional €5.14 billion was announced in the summer Economic Statement to deal with transport, housing, broadband, health, education and flood defences. Some €4.6 billion will be allocated for capital expenditure next year.

Deputy Adams should have a conversation with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. He is dealing extensively with the progress being made in respect of flood relief works and flood prevention across the entire country. As the Deputy will be aware, the previous Government put in place the CFRAM study and has allocated a serious amount of money in coming years to deal with Cork, Galway and many other places where flooding has occurred or is likely to occur.

We are also looking at a scheme to deal with the relocation of people from a small number of houses that have been flooded for the past number of years and where it is no longer possible to live. I believe this applied in the 1980s where a number of houses in south Galway were flooded badly because turloughs became blocked or whatever. If the Deputy engages with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, he can give an update on the progress in respect of each of those.

I again thank Deputy Eamon Ryan for the contributions by the different members of the delegation who appeared before the Cabinet sub-committee yesterday. I found their contributions succinct, accurate, well delivered and very thoughtful. After the delegation left we discussed the question of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment dealing with his mitigation programme which he will launch reasonably soon. We also looked at the question the Deputy raised at the meeting in regard to having a structure to draw in agencies, organisations and individuals to deal with this. One system is the Cabinet sub-committee, itself, but I do not think I would have the opportunity to be available at all times to bring those different groups and organisations together. I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to see what he is proposing. Perhaps the Cabinet sub-committee could be a conduit to assist in that work.

In respect of media coverage, the Deputy will be aware of allegations of the Government using the media as a tool for itself in promoting its own cause. There is a delicate balance in having interest from media in explaining to people what they can do in their communities, organisations and homes to build that national understanding the Deputy rightly spoke of. When people involve themselves in some of these activities, small as they may be, they feel they are playing an important part in what is now a global phenomenon.

Clearly, the extent of the diminution of the Arctic icecap this year is further evidence of climate change on the move. One of the boats that sailed through the Northwest Passage did so in three months. Ten years ago it took the same boat two years to get through; so the change is remarkable.

This is obviously an issue for us. We have got a reasonably good deal from Commissioner Cañete. The challenges here between 2020 and 2030 will be exceptional even given the credits we will be allocated on various issues. We need to return to the matter on a pretty constant basis.

I assure the Deputies that the Ministers and their officials are working really well and strongly from a technical point of view in dealing with Brussels. We cannot get approval for our deal unless we get consent from others and that will not be easy.

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