Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)

I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach and I visited Midleton and met the people there. I always say in the House that from start to finish, a scheme takes 11 years. It is very hard for people to accept this, particularly when their houses and businesses have been flooded. I understand well the areas in Midleton and the pressures on them. With regard to the other areas in question, I am making changes to the minor works scheme and looking at other areas where we can provide funding to the local authority to help to try speed it up under tranche II.

We announced the scheme back in 2018 and I will give the Deputy a picture of where we are at today. We have more than 100 schemes at various stages in the planning and construction, which was an enormous move in terms of the Government protecting the people at risk of flooding. In recent months, we have gone from five schemes to 13 with machines on the ground and two more to come at the end of the year. We are about to make changes to minor works scheme where local authorities will be able to come to my Department and speed up the delivery of some of these schemes in tranche II. I hope to be able to deliver for those people in question with the minor works scheme.

On the Deputy's question on calling to the areas, I would say we are looking at approximately two to three weeks. I am probably the only Minister in the House who is under heavy demand. I am everywhere and anywhere but I like to visit people and to see the problems first hand. I am familiar with some of the areas the Deputy spoke about but we will meet the people on the ground to give assurances that Government is there to help and it will do whatever it can, and I know my Department is doing that. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, has been very supportive in the recent talks relating to providing funding. Government is very much to the fore in respect of flooding right across the country.

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