Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm if staff and in particular engineers working in offices of the Office of Public Works are directed not to speak to public representatives regarding matters that are brought to the public representatives' attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41164/12]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm that when a public representative makes representations to the Office of Public Works regarding a project or job of work that needs to be carried out that his Department have demanded that copies of such correspondence must go back through your office, even if it is not directed there, rather than going forward to the engineering area where the work is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41167/12]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.

It is standard practice, and courtesy, for any Oireachtas Member or elected public representative to route his representations through the office of the relevant Minister, when those enquiries concern the business and functions of the department for which s/he holds responsibility. This is considered to be the most transparent means of dealing with such requests for the sake of everyone concerned.

Work is undertaken in accordance with flood risk management priorities to ensure the best use of resources on a national basis.