Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé ag roinnt mo chuid ama. I thank the Minister for the written speech. It is always very helpful to get a written speech and to go through it. I realise that a lot of work has been done. I have the greatest of respect for the OPW except in regard to its policy of renting buildings. That comes back into the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I understand there is a review of that, but that is for another day.

I was a councillor and saw the initial CFRAM work. An enormous amount of work is involved. I did not realise that the work done covers two thirds of our population. We read all about the cross-Government interdepartmental flood policy co-ordination group. What we really want is somebody to drive it. We know it goes across Departments. It was chaired by the Minister of State, Kevin Boxer Moran. I pay tribute to that Minister of State and also to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, both of whom were very hands-on Ministers of State. When did it meet last? Are minutes available? Have the problems arising and plans for the future been identified?

Tied into that, I ask the Minister to clarify something else for me. Another Deputy asked about coastal erosion. Twenty-one years ago, I became a councillor and one of the Minister's Fine Gael colleagues was to the fore in asking for works to be done between Sáilín and Silverstrand Beach. Twenty-one years later, no work has been carried out and we are still talking about a foreshore licence. I checked before I came to the Chamber. Other than knowing that nothing has happened, I have no idea where we are. Does that come under the Minister's remit? Does it come under the cross-departmental committee? That was identified as essential in preventing coastal erosion.

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