Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My two immediate predecessors in this role - Deputy Canney and former Deputy Moran - worked on the development and design of this scheme and the OPW will always hold it in our arsenal. If we need to revert to the Government with a similar request for relocations on a case-by-case basis, the OPW, together with the relevant authority, will seek to do that based on the lessons we have gleaned.

As the Deputy rightly alluded, the farmyard relocation scheme is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have had bilateral meetings with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, on this issue, specifically as it relates to the Shannon. I have also raised it with directly with the Minister of State, Senator Hackett.

There are farmyards for which there is no viable option other than a relocation. I think the farm representatives have raised this issue as well. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and his officials are working towards that.

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