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

At the meeting we had on Tuesday with Cork County Council, the issue of interim measures was raised with the manager for the southern region of Cork, the director of services and the county engineer. The OPW has asked Cork County Council to assess the town and the flooded areas, including the Water-rock and Ballinacurra areas and the centre of the town, to see if there are interim measures that can be put forward while the scheme is under construction. Once Cork County Council turns that around, we will assess it very quickly. We have also told the council that if additional resources are required in terms of the scheme being brought to tender, and beyond to construction, we will consider that.

I am not going to give the Deputy a date. My priority is to get a successful planning application. The Deputy has often questioned me in this House on other schemes not only in east Cork but in the general CFRAM area. Unfortunately, I cannot give him a date. I can give him a commitment that it still exists as it did the week before the storm when the steering committee met. The money required for Midleton, which has now gone up 300% from the original budget, will be made available by the Government and the Government will do everything in its power to deliver that scheme.

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