Results 1,721-1,740 of 10,569 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 34 together. At the outset, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Government, I want to express our sympathy to the people of County Cork and the other locations, in west Waterford especially, that were flooded and had their businesses and houses impacted by Storm Babet on Thursday of last week. After the event, the Taoiseach and I visited Midleton,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: As I said at the outset, the Government is committed to making sure that the necessary funding, not only for private infrastructure but also for public infrastructure, is made available. As he was at the meeting in Midleton fire station when the CEO of Cork County Council raised the issue of damaged public infrastructure, Deputy O'Connor will be aware that the Taoiseach's response on behalf...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Department of Transport operates the driver and vehicle computer services from a State-owned building in Shannon town centre, that is, the Shannon vehicle registration unit, VRU. The building requires significant investment to address building fabric issues that have arisen over a number of years. This investment was under consideration when an opportunity to acquire a substantial...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I do not disagree with much of what Deputy Crowe said, but finding an available building in an area which, as the Deputy knows as well as I do, has literally gone through an explosion in the number of people who work there, thankfully, is not easy. That being said, we have carried out works in the Department of Transport building to make sure the fabric of the building is protected and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I do not disagree with the Deputy. I have gone through it recently and it is in need of an overhaul. The Shannon Airport Authority has acknowledged the fact it has plans for the entire arrivals hall. We will work with it to make sure any works are done in conjunction with the overall Shannon Airport Authority's master plan for the arrivals hall rather than doing piecemeal or isolated work....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Waterways Issues (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Historically, the arterial drainage of river catchments was intended to improve agricultural land. In terms of beneficial objectives served, the arterial drainage schemes progressed under the 1945 Act, are providing drainage outfall for 242,800 hectares of agricultural lands. Importantly, there has been significant development in these areas since the schemes were completed and the land...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: To deliver the proposed measures set out in the Flood Risk Management Plans for County Louth, Louth County Council, working with the Office of Public Works, has agreed to be the Lead Authority in the delivery of flood relief schemes at Dundalk / Blackrock South, Drogheda, Carlingford / Greenore, Baltray and Ardee, all of which are in the first tranche of projects being progressed. The funding...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: On Thursday last An Taoiseach and I visited some of the affected areas, to see at first hand the devastating impact of the aftermath of the flooding following Storm Babet. The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme – Ireland’s largest study of flood risk – was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. An output of the CFRAM Programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I want, on my own and on the Government’s behalf to express sympathy to the people in Cork County and other locations who had their houses and businesses flooded or were impacted by Storm Babet. On Thursday last, the day after the flooding event An Taoiseach and I visited Midleton. We wanted to meet with the local community to see at first hand the devastating impact from Storm Babet,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with Cork City Council are engaging proactively to progress the Glashaboy flood relief scheme for Glanmire. The Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme was confirmed in January 2021 by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 to 1995. The scheme is being funded from the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Vacant Properties (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate of approximately 2,500 properties. This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda Síochána and numerous properties for many State Agencies....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has been engaged in a number of activities to assess and develop nature-based solutions for flood risk management. In 2019, a four-year research project, under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research programme, titled ‘A Strategic Look at Natural Water Retention Measures’ (SLOWWATERS) commenced. This ongoing research has a budget...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Meteorological Services (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: In 2016, the Government agreed to the establishment of a National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service (NFFWS) to enable members of the public and local authorities take more preparatory action to reduce the impact of flooding. The Office of Public Works (OPW) chairs the Steering Group for the NFFWS, which is also comprised of representatives from Met Éireann, the National Directorate...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and/or coastal protection problems within their administrative areas....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Offshore Islands (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The conservation and protection of An Blascaod Mór continues to be of great importance to the OPW. Visitor access to the island has now ended for the 2023 season, and the OPW's focus is on preparing for the 2024 season. OPW reached an agreement with a local landowner to provide toilet facilities for visitors for the 2023 season. This facility, which also includes an indoor shelter...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has invested €63m across 875 unique local flood relief projects that protect some 7,800 properties, through the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am advised that Galway City Council, as Project Sponsor and Contracting Authority, is leading the development of the Coirib go Cósta – Galway City Flood Relief Scheme, with technical advice and funding being provided by the Office of Public Works. The primary objective of the Coirib go Cósta Project is to assess, design and deliver a viable, cost-effective, and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (26 Oct 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local...