Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators again for the opportunity to come before the House today to engage with them directly on flooding matters. I am aware of the significant impact on communities, the distress caused by flooding and the continued flood risk. I have seen first-hand the impact of flooding on people in their homes, their businesses and their farms. I convey my deepest sympathy to all those who are affected by flooding.

The OPW is the lead agency for flood risk management. It has a vital role in co-ordinating the delivery of measures to meet the Government's national flood risk policy and leading a comprehensive programme of measures to address flood risk from rivers.

I took the opportunity to go back into government. I could have sat on the wings and shouted. I did it for a reason. I believe that, in government, you can make decisions, make things happen, and go on to do things for the community, first of all for the people who elected you and, in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, for people throughout the country. I have been in this position before. I believe that 2018 was the roadmap to help communities across Ireland when it comes to funding, with the significance of the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme. I call it the bible. I call it that for a reason. It gives us a roadmap. As I set out in the early stages, stage 1 to stage 5 is 11 years. Politicians are great when they are announcing a Garda station. They go down, get the cameras and a picture is taken, but they have to wait for ten years. Flooding is the same. There are so many criteria to comply with, including planning, with possible objections, judicial reviews and the habitats directive. I do not want to stand and make excuses. I can say that Government is providing €1.3 billion. It is a huge chunk of money and I have a job to do.

There was much talk of river cleaning today. I am actively looking at it. I want to see something happen with it. I am also looking at ways to improve the minor works scheme. We have many flood schemes in tranche 2. I am trying to find a way to help local authorities to advance those. I will be on the road over the next weeks and will be visiting most local authorities around the country. I will announce schemes and see if there are blockages or if there is anywhere I can help to speed up the process and drive on schemes, particularly for the people whom the Senators represent and the people of Ireland as a whole. I know too well the suffering; I was there. I carried people out of their homes and watched people standing on tables, hanging on to lights as the water got high. I know too well the pressure that Senators are under, communities are under and, most of all, people are under. It affects the farming community. It affects not just one, but everyone.

We have the habitats directive that we have to comply with. I cannot just railroad in machines and say they should do this, that and the other, or I would be at the other end and people would be asking me why I did not follow the proper procedure. I do not like people criticising other Departments. People spoke about the Shannon and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. We all work together. We have worked together in the past. We worked together when I was in this position before. I have no doubt, in meeting all those different models, that we will work together in the future.

I talked about the schemes that are coming to completion and the ones that are at construction. We also have to look at the ones at the planning stage. It is significant compared with where we were. In 2018, very little work was being done because the money was not there. The Government stood up to the task and provided money. I, as Minister of State, have to deliver on that. That is a whole-of-government approach. I met the Taoiseach and Tánaiste. The night before I went into government, we had a long discussion about flooding. I gave a commitment when I got the honour of taking up this role that I would deliver and do whatever is necessary to help communities around the country. I will continue to do that. I will work with every Senator in this House, as I work with every TD in the Dáil.

I am very active. It might be my birthday and I thank Senators for the best wishes, but I have plenty of energy. Since I have gone back to the Office of Public Works, I have kept it going day and night because I have different ideas and projects that I would like to see help communities. I have to praise the Office of Public Works because the people in it are excellent. They are always there for me when it comes to flood management. I assure the House that we have meetings not weekly but daily, and sometimes hourly. Since I have come back into the fold, we have really ramped up where I have been talking to the local authorities.

There is one element of this we have to understand. The minor works scheme is there for the local authorities. When people come into the House and say to me that the OPW is not doing something, I have to say the local authorities drive nearly every scheme. If Senators have an issue, talk to the local authorities, come back to me, and I will do whatever I can as Minister of State. I want to work with those local authorities. I want to work with everybody to help to drive on what we in this room believe is helping communities at large.

I know too well the storms that are coming thick and fast. I know about climate change and about nature. I believe in much of what was said here today but I also have to look at coastal flooding. In my opening remarks, I said that the last time I was in government, coastal flooding was going to take over. The pressure faced by local authorities, farmers and people in their homes around the country is serious. We have to do whatever is necessary to help them. I will do that, working with the local authorities, but it is not easy because the challenges are big. We have to work together to see out those projects.

My door in my office is open to everyone to come up to have a chat, to see where we can find solutions and work together, rather than standing up and having a go at the problem but not actually dealing with it. As I said, I have spoken to a number of councillors around the country. The first thing I am driven by is rivers. The second is the delivery of the schemes. The third is when they will start and finish. It is my job as Minister of State to pursue that. The Senators referred to Lough Funshinagh. That is a real example of us working together, where all the agencies sit around the table and make progress. I intend to drive that progress across the Office of Public Works, working with all agencies and none.

I appreciate the Cathaoirleach's time. I thank him for having me here. The sun is shining but I know too well that it could be raining tomorrow. When people go to bed at night, the last thing they want to hear is the rain and wonder what will happen next. I understand that. I will continue to work with everyone into the future.