Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Flood relief schemes are taking far too long. There is a structural issue in terms of permits and various planning procedures. All across the country the delivery of flood relief schemes is snarled up. There are planning objections, and while people can object, it is taking far too long, with judicial reviews. It is serious because climate change is now. Its impact is being felt through severe storms and flooding. Life itself is in danger and loss of life happens in the context of terrible storms, or indeed potentially of terrible floods. The pace at which flood relief schemes are going is in my view out of kilter with the rapidity of climate impacts leading to more storms and floods. That is something on which I will be working with the OPW, local authorities and the Government more generally.

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