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

I said in answer to an earlier priority question from Deputy Cairns from Cork South-West that we do not have the capacity, capability or even legal standing to move projects any faster because we are a party to planning processes. If we were to decide to try to gazump the planning process, people inside and outside this House would be looking to try to get us into the Four Courts. We have to move flood risk management processes through a sequential process. We are conscious of the risk to Donegal town and to all the other communities in County Donegal. I am conscious of the scourge of flooding in Deputy Doherty's county, as I am of the scourge of flooding in every county. We are trying to alleviate it as quickly as we can, but we have to do so on the basis that we know there are people out there who would be only too happy to get us into the High Court, injunct us and seek judicial review.

I commit to the Deputy that I will go to Donegal in the coming weeks. When I do so, I will let him and all the other Oireachtas Members representing Donegal know. I will work with Donegal County Council to arrange a time for my visit to see the progress of those schemes. We will try to make as full a visit as possible to the county.

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