Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The impacts of climate change are there for most of us in this Chamber to see and to acknowledge. The change was evidenced recently in the magnitude of the flooding events in Cork and nationwide. We had our various ministerial visits over that month but the most important one for me was the visit of the OPW. At the time genuine conversations were had with locals about interim measures that could be taken outside of the flood prevention scheme that already has works under way. There was a hope that certain in-stream works could be undertaken out of season. I am of the understanding that once the deadline of 30 September has passed, in exceptional emergency circumstances requiring relief from flooding, landslide and subsidence and relating to human safety, in-stream works by local authorities out of season can be permitted, subject to strict conditions by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. In this scenario it must be shown to the Department's satisfaction that the relevant local authority is taking all precautions and making such provisions for the protection of fisheries and so on. Will the Taoiseach provide an update, if possible in the coming days, from the OPW to see if the office is seriously engaging with allowing the contractors that are already there on site to go in and do some in-stream works to help unclog and unblock much of the river that is already blocked up?

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