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

I appreciate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's indulgence. I ask Deputy Buckley to send me an email on the last particular point he made so I can follow up to see if there are possibilities there. Deputy O'Connor can go through the script but on the particular issues, I approved €155,000 on 17 September to deliver flood mitigation works in Castlemartyr and Killeagh. This was made available from the OPW's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme that provides local authorities with 90% of the funding. In Castlemartyr, €81,844 was allocated for works including lowering the embankment at specific locations, cleaning the Kiltha River, removing overhanging trees and dredging the river from the factory bridge to the N25 bridge. The €73,125 funding for Killeagh provides for tree cutting, the removal of overhanging trees and branches and the removal of vegetation downstream of the N25.

In relation to his point on Rathcormack, I understand that Cork County Council is actively engaging with the local community to progress a number of flood mitigation works including surface water road drainage, embankment words, road improvement works and the cleaning of the old village river channel. The council is also expecting to submit to the OPW, in the coming weeks, an application for funding for mitigation measures in Mogeely.

To go back to the point the Deputy raised in terms of tranche 2 versus tranche 1, it is a point Deputy O'Connor has been very consistent on. Obviously, in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, in the context of Midleton and the surrounding areas, I want to get the main scheme rolled out. I want to get the IPP scheme up and running. I want to get the advanced works built in. There has been significant progress in recent times by Cork County Council on the interim measures and I think that is acknowledged. In terms of progressing the scheme, I want the IPP to cover all the areas. The issue on tranche 2 is coming out of the CFRAM studies, as the Deputy is well aware, so there is a technical basis for the decision. A former Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW is in the Chamber, Deputy Canney, who will be very familiar with it.

For me, it is a twofold issue. How do we address the immediate needs of places like Castlemartyr, Mogeely, Rathcormack, Ladysbridge and Midleton? The other issue in terms of tranche 2 is a further issue that I will look at. We have done a considerable amount of work in Midleton and I want to thank Cork County Council and particularly, I want to thank the Deputies. I thank Deputy O'Connor, Deputy Stanton, Deputy Buckley and all the public representatives on the ground for their assistance in progressing the measures that are here. I know from being down there how difficult it has been for the people throughout all the areas and I hope the interim works are bringing some bit of security. We hope to roll out the IPP scheme shortly, and the main scheme as well.

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