Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)

I wish to address something to which reference has already been made, namely our climate targets. This is a matter I have already spoken about. We know it will be beneficial for the Government if we invest millions of euro in our ports and expand them. While there is going to be huge offshore renewable energy coming into the Port of Cork, the latter is not a viable location for brining in the big vessels necessary to allow for the swift change in our infrastructure.

On behalf of the people of Clontarf, I thank the Minister of State from the bottom of my heart for visiting the ongoing flood works there. I also thank his Department for announcing the €2 million it is giving towards flood defences. That was really well received. What residents in Castle Court and Auburn experienced in 2008 was horrific. Since the Minister of State’s Department announced this funding, I have been on the phone with multiple residents who have had restless nights every time there is heavy rain. The fact that the culvert is being worked on is really helping people. The Minister of State has helped people have their homes, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart. When I knocked on doors during the election campaign, the message that people were tired of living in fear came across loud and clear. The Minister of State has now removed that fear. They are tired of the sandbags in Clontarf. The people of Dublin Bay North and I thank the Minister of State for visiting last week.

We need permanent, modern flood defences. I welcome the announcement on the 22 May that OPW approval has been granted for Dublin city flood works. The key part of the River Wad phase 1B flood relief scheme, and specifically the construction of the necessary culvert combined with the upgrade to the outfall, which began in April, represents real, practical progress. I thank the Minister of State for that. I am grateful. He is well suited to this role. I thank Dublin City Council, the OPW and all the civil servants who helped us get over the line. These works will protect more than 60 properties from flood risk. This is the result of years of planning and engineering studies. The Minister of State and the OPW have shown real leadership in progressing this project. I acknowledge all the technical work done by all the engineers involved and the consistent engagement of Dublin City Council.

Make no mistake, the work is not finished. I look forward to working with the Minister of State on phase 1B of the larger multistage process. When he visited, he announced that he will be putting the alternative long-term flood defence solutions out for public consultation. I look forward to seeing those in the next three months, as he announced. I thank the Minister of State again. The community is delighted. Peoples’ marriages have been saved. There are individuals who were really stressed for the past few years and who could not get insurance on their houses. That has now changed. This is cross-party, constructive work. I welcome the involvement of everyone who has contributed positively to moving this project forward. We also must say clearly that the sandbags must go. We cannot accept a situation where parts of Dublin Bay North are reliant on temporary barriers.

The OPW is currently investing €200 million in flood relief measures across County Dublin. A total of seven of those schemes have been completed and seven more are under way. Nationally, the Government has committed €1.3 billion to flood defence. I thank the Government for that, because it is significant. What matters most to the people I represent, however, is that there will be delivery. I thank the Minister of State on behalf of the people. We must also thank the engineering experts. I thank him for the funding. Let us put in place permanent flood defences that protect homes and livelihoods. Let us deliver real security to a community that has lived too long under threat.

I also wish to put the following matter on the record of the House. There is a public perception that the people of Clontarf objected to flood defence. They did not do so. They objected to a berm that would be put in place the entire way down Clontarf seafront. This is a complete lie. It must be made clear that the people of Clontarf want and welcome flood defence. They are very grateful for the Minister of State’s visit.

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