Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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I must be very strict on time in order to begin the next business at 4 p.m. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Moran.

Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address the very urgent matter I raise, namely, flooding in Enniscorthy, the population of which is approaching 12,500. Regrettably, the town's location on the beautiful banks of the River Slaney means it is prone to flooding. There has been flooding of a severe nature in 1924, 1947, 1965, 2000, 2002, 2009, 2014, 2016 and, most recently, in 2021, when the flooding took place on Christmas Day.

For the past ten years, the Government has committed to delivering a flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy. Unfortunately, the reality is that while funding was allocated after the flooding in 2014, local residents and businesses affected by it have not seen progress. In 2020, Wexford County Council and the Minister of State's Department submitted a planning application to the then Minister for public expenditure to deliver a flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy that would have involved taking out the Seamus Rafter Bridge, dredging the river and erecting glass walls. The scheme had buy-in from the local community, including the 105 residents and 127 owners of the business and commercial properties affected by flooding on an ongoing basis, with no objections or submissions put forward as part of the public consultation process. Regrettably, in 2022, two years after the application was submitted to the Minister for public expenditure, it was rejected, citing environmental considerations.

When heavy rain is anticipated in Enniscorthy, residents live in fear that, once again, their homes, businesses or commercial properties will be flooded. This has created an unfortunate situation whereby investment in the Templeshannon side of the town has stalled and properties on Island Road have been devalued, with their owners unable to access flood insurance. People have adopted a cynical attitude in that they genuinely do not believe we will ever have flood defences in Enniscorthy. I am here today to give a voice to their fears and to advocate on their behalf to ensure this project gets the priority it deserves. I know the Minister of State has taken a personal interest in the project in the past, including by visiting Enniscorthy. In fact, when he was previously Minister of State, the project made it to the point that it could go forward for planning approval. I have several specific questions for him. Is the OPW determined to see the project through? Is it a priority once again for the Minister of State? Will he visit the town with me and meet with some of the residents and the local councillors in the Enniscorthy municipal district? Is he committed to delivering this project?

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I have seen first-hand the devastation that flooding has on people, businesses and communities. The town of Enniscorthy has a long history of flooding. The most recent flood events occurred in 2000 and 2015. Flooding represents a risk to health and safety. In Enniscorthy, it has resulted in significant property damage and traffic disruption.

In March 2020, the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland submitted the Enniscorthy food relief scheme to the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for statutory confirmation under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. The main elements of the proposed scheme included construction of flood defence walls, river channel widening and deepening, and removal of the Seamus Rafter Bridge, with construction of new and replacement road and pedestrian bridges over the River Slaney. In March 2022, the then Minister made a decision to refuse this scheme consent under section 7E(1)(b) of the Arterial Drainage Acts, as amended by the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019. The Minister reached the decision to refuse consent for the scheme due primarily to concerns regarding its impact on the environment and protected species, including the freshwater pearl mussel. My ministerial predecessor, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, at a meeting of Enniscorthy MDC on 4 May 2022, gave a commitment to deliver the flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy. I confirm to the Senator today that I am 100% committed to the flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy.

People ask us to visit and I will gladly do that but there are issues. The environmental element is slowing down the process and delivery of the scheme but I am looking at ways to streamline that. I will also gladly take up the offer to meet the Senator and his colleagues, particularly the councillors.

I was very good to Enniscorthy when I was Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. I continue my work now by giving the Senator a commitment that I want the delivery of the scheme and I promise that.

Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State and welcome his commitment to the scheme. I welcome his confirmation that the scheme is funded and will be funded, and that he accepts the invitation to visit Enniscorthy with me and to meet the Enniscorthy municipal district councillors. I again thank the Minister of State for his contribution.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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As I said at the outset, I know too well the effects flooding has on people. I know the frightening effects on people when they hear the downpours after they go to bed at night.

I was in Portugal recently representing the Government and the people of Ireland and saw at first hand the issues they have. I was also there to see if we can learn from and work with them. There are things we can do to speed up the process but it is about working together. I will work with the Senator and he will work with me, and that is the way I look forward to working with the councillors, especially those on Enniscorthy municipal district council. I did meet some of them recently to discuss another issue which we have finally resolved. I will have news in the coming weeks on flooding in terms of minor works and other things. That is the way to get the local authority to drive on these schemes. It is about working together and not apart.