Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In some ways, this is an example of a bigger issue and challenge we face nationally. We are seeing more extreme weather cycles. Undoubtedly, climate change is happening. Not only do we need to do more to mitigate its effects, we also need to spend very large sums of money to adapt to more dramatic weather cycles, including for flood relief measures.

We need to ensure that rivers large and small have the capacity to move much larger volumes of water in flooding instances. Having said that, before this can happen a process, involving environmental impact assessments if necessary, needs to be followed. Many local authorities have put in place regional flood strategies. I am glad that the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, working I am sure with the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, has looked at the challenges of flooding and river basin management plans for County Kerry.

I do not think the Deputy could seriously expect me to confirm funding for an individual project that requires an application, probably from the local authority. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, has a very considerable sum of money to spend in coming years on flood mitigation. It is about €400 million from memory, which is a significant allocation to deal with the increased flooding risk, particularly in the Shannon basin but also in other parts of the country, including in the south west where the Deputy lives and where rivers need to be managed in a way that allows them to deal with flash flooding and more extreme weather cycles. I suggest that the local authority should work with the OPW and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, who is somewhat of a flood expert, to ensure this project gets the priority it needs.

See this speech in context