My interest in flooding is no different from the Deputy's or the whole country. I give her a firm commitment. I have to follow the rules that are set out in front of me. I am working with the local authority and the Deputy and other Deputies from the region, and I will continue to work with them as I have in the past. My job as Minister of State is to deliver a scheme and when it goes from 312 properties to nearly 1,000, it means the scheme is broader and bigger and takes a lot more time. I understand that, and I h…

I could talk to the Deputy about my town of Athlone-----

It started off with four or five cells and ended up with 11 or 13. These all take time. The CFRAM programme set out to do a job. It has done the job and when they appointed the consultants, they realised the scheme was way bigger than was foreseen. I will give the assurance that I will be hands-on and I will do what is necessary to bring it to a conclusion.

The OPW, as the lead agency for flood risk management, is co-ordinating the delivery of measures towards meeting the Government’s national flood risk policy. A broad range of structural and non-structural measures have already been implemented to address flood risk under an approach structured around three pillars: prevention, protection, and preparedness. In the course of its work, the OPW engages with other Departments and State agencies through a variety of key groups and I will briefly outline the work of some …

I want to answer the question put to me. Other stuff has been brought up in relation to the Deputy's area and I fully understand that. I will get to him on that. On the question, I can only say what I say to every Member of the House. When a politician turns the sod at a Garda station, it could be 11 years before we see that Garda station. The very same occurs with planning permission for flood defences. There are many hurdles. As a Department, we have to adhere to all these environmental things in order to deliver…

I will give the Deputy an answer to the question he put to me but some of the issues he is putting to me now are very detailed. I apologise for the simple reason that last time we were here, he put questions to me and I did not have the answers. However, this time I have the answer and it is back to him. I will gladly work with him. There is a huge body of work being done. It is hard to predict when we will have everything because it changes from time to time. The different groups we have now set up for flooding ar…

I thank the Deputy for his words of encouragement. The OPW is responsible for the conservation, care and preservation of Kilkenny Castle and parkland. In 2024, there were approximately 417,000 ticket visitors to Kilkenny Castle and 780,000 to the parkland. The OPW delivers an annual programme of maintenance and conservation at the castle. Planned maintenance works, including mechanical and electric works and window maintenance, continue to be undertaken. Painting and decorating, cabling, lighting and infrastructure…

You could not get better advertising than that. When he mentioned getting the cheque book, I looked at the man on my right and he smiled. We all know, particularly those of us in government, how important Kilkenny Castle is to the economy and to Kilkenny. The OPW has invested hugely in it and will continue to do so. As I stated, there are some good projects coming down the line that will enhance the experience for visitors. We will continue to do that. I will gladly work with the Deputy and other Members in relatio…

I am invited to attend many events. I appreciate the offer. I have to go up and down the country to look at flood schemes. I assure the Deputy that I have been in Kilkenny Castle. I met with my team yesterday to discuss a number of different projects. Kilkenny Castle was at the top of the list. We are investing heavily in the project. I will always support Deputies coming to my Department and, in particular, to me to discuss projects like this.

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 Mini…

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 …

When the Leader of the Opposition calls us lackies it is a disgrace.

It is a disgrace. How dare she.

I was elected by the people in Longford-Westmeath

I thank the Senator very much. It is great to be in the House again. I welcome everyone. No more than myself, it is great to be back. We all work to help people up and down the country. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I assure him that I am aware of the damage caused by flooding in Killybegs on the night of 23 November and into the morning of 24 November last. I understand that, at their peak, the flood waters rose to approximately 1.2 m and flooded 16 houses and nine businesses. Following on from this…

I fully understand. Nobody knows more about flooding than I do. I have seen it not just in Athlone but all over the country. I have been engaged with my officials. In regard to a humanitarian fund, I will see where that is at and try to get it to those people. I can assure the Senator that my officials are working closely with me and the council. I have been invited to that particular area again. I am a person who, when I go to an area, I want to have something to say. I do not want to go and be long-winded. I want…

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I assure him that I am very aware of the recent flood event that occurred in Listowel-Killocrim in November 2024 and the devastation that was caused to many properties. I understand that the level recorded in the River Feale was the highest ever recorded and as a result a significant number of properties were affected in both the Listowel and Killocrim areas in the west of Listowel. After the event, the officials from the OPW met with the residents and Kerry Co…

I thank the Senator. I will take him up on that offer. I assure the Senator that funding is not the issue. There are certain criteria that have to be met. Working with the local authorities, it is fine to go in and do something but that may cause problems further down the track. I am fully aware of the issues that exist down there. My team met with Kerry County Council, and they are working on this. While it is not at the pace that the Senator or I would like, we have to take the necessary measures in order to ensu…

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The lveagh Gardens were placed in the care of the OPW in 1991. The OPW's remit includes the restoration and conservation of the gardens, while allowing greater public access. The OPW continues to restore and maintain the gardens. It will continue to do so into the future. The Dublin City Council development plan reinforces the safeguarding of the lveagh Gardens through the zoning of the gardens as open space amenity. The lveagh Gardens are also listed on the register of …

I could not agree with the Senator more. The Iveagh Gardens are a jewel in the crown and a site visited by great numbers of people. As I said in my response, the planning application was dealt with by An Bord Pleanála. It stated quite clearly that the development will do little or no damage to the site. I hear the Senator's point, and it is well made. It is something I will take further. I will come back to him on some of the questions he has asked he put to me. I will visit the site. There is no point saying I wil…