Results 3,161-3,180 of 10,569 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Ceisteanna Eile – Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: The voluntary homeowners relocation scheme was introduced by the Government in 2017 to address the serious flooding of those properties that flooded in the winter of 2015 and 2016, including those properties flooded by turloughs. To be eligible for assistance under this one-off scheme, a homeowner had to meet a number of conditions, including that floodwater entered and damaged the building...

Ceisteanna Eile – Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy will appreciate, a long-standing precedent means I cannot comment on individual cases in the House because I do not have the details. If the Deputy furnishes them to me, I can have them examined by the OPW and the relevant officials in the Department.

Ceisteanna Eile – Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: My two immediate predecessors in this role - Deputy Canney and former Deputy Moran - worked on the development and design of this scheme and the OPW will always hold it in our arsenal. If we need to revert to the Government with a similar request for relocations on a case-by-case basis, the OPW, together with the relevant authority, will seek to do that based on the lessons we have gleaned....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Risk Management (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: I visited Bantry following the recent flood events, including last month after the flooding of 28 properties during Storm Barra. I have seen at first hand the devastation that flooding has caused to homeowners, businesses and the wider Bantry community. The flood risk management plan launched in May 2018 included a recommendation to progress the design, planning and construction of a flood...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Risk Management (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: There are two elements to this scheme. One concerns the culvert running through the centre of the town and the other is the flooding that happens from the harbour, which is part of the wider Bantry flood relief scheme. It is evident from meetings involving officials of Cork County Council and the OPW that the council is progressing the design of the culvert element via its own engineering...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Risk Management (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Clonakilty scheme is completed and has been handed over to Cork County Council, while the schemes in Skibbereen and Bandon have more or less been completed as well. The true test of the pudding is in the eating, though. As someone who knows Bandon intimately, being able to say that the town did not flood during Storm Barra, and that my brother's pub did not flood, unlike in almost every...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: Thank You, Deputy Crowe, for your question in relation to the upcoming programme of works in Clare. Your query covers a range of projects from minor works to large capital programmes and drainage maintenance. The OPW have invested heavily in Flood Relief projects in County Clare over the last number of years and continue to do so with a cumulative value for active schemes in excess of 70...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: The OPW has issued guidance on ventilation to Departments, based on the recommendations contained in the Government’s “Work Safely Protocol”. On an ongoing basis the OPW Maintenance Helpdesk provides advice and assistance on request to Departments occupying OPW buildings. Responsibility for risk assessing individual work places, including the level of ventilation in OPW...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: The OPW’s involvement with An Blascaod Mór goes back to 1988 with Ionad an Bhlascaoid, (the Blasket Centre) being developed with assistance from the locally based voluntary group, Fondúíreacht an Bhlascaoid in 1992-3. The Visitor Centre was officially opened in April 1994. The Visitor Centre site on the mainland at Dún Chaoin supports and animates the OPW’s...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Parks (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works has been actively progressing the various elements of the Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Options Study, Post Consultation Report, June 2021, since its adoption by my Office. Over 2,200 submissions were received from members of the public, stakeholders and elected representatives. Five common themes emerged as follows: - walking & cycling; access, gates...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: Glendruid Dolmen in Brennanstown is in the Guardianship of the State. Section 5 of the National Monuments Act (1930) allows owners of other national monuments to appoint the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage or the relevant local authority as guardian of such monuments, subject to their consent. This means in effect that while the property of such a monument remains vested...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: In reply to your question, the Phoenix Park is unique in Ireland, comprising many components that serve a variety of functions. While it is a historic landscape of international significance enjoyed by millions of people on a yearly basis, it is also home to a number of important institutions including St Mary’s Hospital, Garda Headquarters and Aras an Uachtarain, all of which require...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: Climate change projections indicate that flooding events are expected to become more frequent and severe in the future. This will have a considerable impact on flood risk in Ireland, particularly where our cities and most of our main towns are located either on the coast or alongside our estuaries or rivers. Following on from the review of national flood policy, launched in 2018, the OPW...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 48 and 55 together. The Government has noted the study by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group that supports a programme of strategic maintenance to help mitigate flooding along the River Shannon and a further study on the removal of a series of constrictions or ‘pinch points’ through the Shannon Callows that can...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: Historically, flood risk management focused on the arterial drainage of river catchments to improve agricultural land. Maintenance of Arterial and Drainage District channels, designated under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, is the responsibility of the OPW and Local Authorities respectively. These include the maintenance by the OPW of the Boyne, Inny and Glyde-and-Dee Arterial Drainage...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Protection (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Government established the Inter-Departmental Group on Managing Coastal Change to scope out an approach for the development of a national co-ordinated and integrated strategy to manage the projected impact of coastal change to our coastal communities. The Inter-Departmental Group is jointly chaired by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the OPW and will bring...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Protection (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: Coastal erosion is a natural and ongoing process, which takes place around the entire coastline. The Office of Public Works (OPW) does not have responsibility for the preparation of a national coastal erosion strategy or plan. The OPWs prime responsibility in this area is the management of flood risk. However, the Government has established an Inter-Departmental Group on Managing Coastal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am advised that flood defences in the Spanish Arch and docks area of Galway city are being developed as part of the Coirib go Cósta – Galway City Flood Relief Scheme. Galway City Council, as Project Sponsor and Contracting Authority, is leading the development of the Scheme, with technical advice and funding provided by the Office of Public Works. On the 30thNovember last...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Court Accommodation (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: I can confirm to the Deputy that Francis Haughey Construction, Building Contractor, commenced with site set up at Carlow Court House on the week commencing 10thJanuary 2022. Francis Haughey has issued the Office of Public Works with a programme for the works and has confirmed a completion date for the repairs to the railings of the end of June 2022. It is my intention to visit Carlow and see...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (20 Jan 2022)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Clonakilty Flood Relief Scheme was undertaken by the Office of Public Works in partnership with Cork County Council, and was substantially completed in February 2021, providing protection to 296 properties against river and tidal flooding. The surface water issues at Faxbridge roundabout are a road/surface drainage issue, are not connected with the works, and did not fall within the...