Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I appreciate his utter frustration. In my role as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, my main purpose in visiting Midleton recently was to get a full picture as to where the schemes were at. The OPW is actively engaging with Cork County Council on progressing the substantive main scheme. The only timeframe that is within the control of the council is the timeframe for submitting a planning application for the most efficient route to deliver the scheme as quickly as possible. Once that is submitted, it has no control over timelines. We are looking at an application for planning consent to be lodged by mid-2026. That is why I am so adamant about the advance works. We are looking at that permission being granted by mid-2027. Provided there are no judicial challenges, the scheme is expected to be completed in 2030.

I will break it down. The Deputy made reference to Mogeely. When I was there, I wanted additional interim protection measures to the back of the estate. I wanted consulting engineers to be appointed to do that critical work. I looked for that on the day. We also met residents in Castlemartyr. I want to see works being done there under the minor works scheme. We also looked at Killeagh. When in Midleton, we met the consultants who had been appointed to the main scheme. I want to see advance works done because, at the end of the day, many of those advance works will make an enormous difference in protecting homes, businesses and farms and they can be done much more quickly than the main scheme. They will effectively be a forward element of that main scheme. That is something I am adamant about progressing.

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