Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for accepting my invitation to visit Enniscorthy in the not too distant future to address the long-standing flooding issues that we have had in the town. I look forward to working with him in my role as Fine Gael's Seanad spokesperson on public expenditure and infrastructure. I want to highlight the sheer devastation I have witnessed, and I am sure the Minister of State is the same as me, that flooding can bring to houses, residences and business properties. On Christmas Day in December 2021, I witnessed the flooding of my hometown, Enniscorthy. I saw people taking their entire life's possessions out of their homes and putting them into skips following the flooding. I know the Minister of State has committed to working with me on addressing the Enniscorthy flood relief project and I am grateful to him for that.

I highlight the programme for Government commitment to streamline and simplify the delivery of flood relief schemes. It is important that, over the course of this term, we work to make sure there is a balance struck between the need to protect the environment, ensuring we live in a sustainable and environmentally supportive country, with the need of residences and businesses not to be in fear of being flooded yet again when the rain comes. There is a balance to be struck there and I am concerned we have not got the balance fully correct. At the moment, if there is a large-scale flooding project, the Arterial Drainage Act commits that project to be submitted for review to the local authority, the Office of Public Works, and to the Minister and officials at the Department of public expenditure. It is my opinion that the Department of public expenditure is not sufficiently equipped to be a planning authority and to determine whether these flood relief projects should be awarded planning permission and consent to proceed. I know the Minister of State is committed to reforming the legislation in this area. This has to be a key priority for the Government. If we want to get serious about tackling major, large-scale flood relief projects, we need to have the ambition and a planning process that goes to where it should, which is An Bord Pleanála. I will work with the Minister of State on that.