Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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55. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of, and specific timeline for, his decision on the Enniscorthy flood defence scheme proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10961/22]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The flooding disaster that affected the county of Wexford last Christmas, particularly in Enniscorthy and Bridgetown among many other areas, made people homeless for a short time and put Wexford County Council workers, other rescue workers and many businesses at risk. In that context, I wish to ask about the specific timeline for the Minister's decision on the Enniscorthy flood defence scheme proposal.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the Office of Public Works, OPW, which does a great deal of work with Wexford County Council on the issue of flooding, I wish to take this opportunity to extend my sympathies and those of the OPW to the family of the late Billy Kinsella, his wife, Rita, and his son, Conor, on his recent passing. He was working in the aftermath of a recent storm. Wexford County Council has worked hand in glove with the OPW during many of the storms that that part of the country has faced.

I thank the Deputy for her question on the much-needed Enniscorthy flood relief scheme. The scheme is being progressed by Wexford County Council on behalf of the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. This is a scheme within the OPW's €1.3 billion flood relief investment programme nationally as part of the NDP, from which the relevant funding for the Enniscorthy scheme will be made available. On completion, the scheme will protect 236 properties in the town. The proposed scheme includes river channel widening, river deepening, bridge relocation and the construction of extensive glass-panelled flood walls through the town. The estimated total budget will be approximately €51 million, including VAT, when other costs such as fees, site investigation works, environmental mitigation, property-landowner compensation and future maintenance costs are taken into consideration. The scheme is going through the confirmation process under the Arterial Drainage Acts following submission to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for assessment in mid-2020.

It is important to note that, under section 7E of the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019, the Minister can make a number of decisions: make an order confirming the scheme; refuse to confirm the scheme; or refer the scheme back to the Commissioners of the OPW for revision in specified respects.

I will conclude the rest of my reply shortly.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I appreciate the Minister of State's response and that he came to Enniscorthy over the Christmas period. I also wish to pay my respects to Billy Kinsella and his family. He was the unfortunate county council worker who lost his life during the recent storm.

My question was not for the Minister of State. It was actually for the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath. During the Minister of State's visit to Enniscorthy, he told us that the decision lay with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My question, which was for the Minister, was on when he would sign off on the requisite money. The answer that I have just received from the Minister of State is the exact same response I received to a parliamentary question on 25 January. The issue for me is that we keep getting the same answer.

Independent Councillor Jackser Owens has raised this matter a number of times. Clarity is required. When will the €51 million be made available?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As I made clear at a meeting convened by the chairman of the Enniscorthy municipal district of Wexford County Council, Councillor Cathal Byrne, and as the Deputy will have heard on the quays in Enniscorthy alongside the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, and others, this is not a question of money, so it is not fair to refer to it as such on the floor of the Dáil. The Deputy and other public representatives heard me say that this had to do with a planning process. I have outlined in the Dáil once again that the Minister has three options available to him under a planning process that is laid out in the Arterial Drainage Acts. The Minister must have regard to the Acts when deliberating and making decisions and it would not be appropriate for me or the OPW to interfere in any way with that process.

When I am asked a question as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, it is important that I would answer it appropriately and accordingly.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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With all due respect, I appreciate that but the Minister of State will have heard me say on that same occasion that if the process is open-ended there will be no definitive timeline as to when it ends and it could go on forever. The Minister of State said on that day that there is nothing we can do, but there is something we can do. We are legislators. We can ensure there is a timeline on the process. We can bring forth legislation such that in regard to the planning issue in terms of the Arterial Drainage Acts a timeline must be set and adhered to. It cannot be open-ended, otherwise we could be here in ten years' time. This is going on since 2012. The minutes of the meeting in 2012 recorded that this flood drainage scheme would go ahead. I appreciate that as stated by the Minister of State he had a meeting with one of the councillors. The reality is that at last month's meeting in Enniscorthy the councillors again requested a meeting with the Minister. I am here pre-empting that. The Minister will have to have that meeting.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As I said, this is part of a process in which the Minister cannot interfere. I said at the time, and I reiterate it again on the floor of the Dáil, that the process is open-ended for very good reason. If it was not open-ended and a time constraint was placed on it people would also have a difficulty with that. They would say that because of the time constraint the process needs to be extended. The Arterial Drainage Acts are laid out in a manner which gives the Commissioners for the Office of Public Works access to lands such as lands owned by the ESB so that we are not forced into the situation whereby compulsory purchase acquisition and so on is necessary.

I know that people are very frustrated. I am very frustrated, as is the OPW. Tom Enright is doing an excellent job as chief executive of Wexford County Council.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Aside from the recent-----

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I did not interrupt the Deputy. Mr. Enright is working with us to try to deliver this scheme along with other schemes in Wexford. He is doing an excellent job to get it delivered. As soon as the OPW is in a position where it can get confirmation of the scheme, if we can get confirmation of it, we will deliver it.