Again, I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important question today and for the opportunity to give him an update. We all desire the same thing, to provide a world-class service in Ireland. In south Dublin, the building is at phase 1 and on track for delivery in August. Funding has been approved for the surgical hub in north Dublin in Swords and construction has commenced. Recruitment will commence in due course. We expect that the hubs in Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford will be operational in 2025 and ear…

I thank the Deputy. I felt it was important for me to be here for the debate. I thank the Deputy for his long-standing interest in Castletown House and estate. The Deputy has made ongoing representations through parliamentary questions and Oireachtas committees with regard to Castletown House and estate. He and his fellow representatives of Kildare are valued members of the Castletown House and estate stakeholders working group. This group was initiated by my predecessor, the then Minister of State, Deputy O'Donova…

I note Deputy Durkan's utter commitment in this area. I think everyone is of a common bond, which is that we want to see Castletown House reopened and want the estate back to normal functioning hours. The overlying thing is that it remains the strategic objective of the OPW to acquire the remaining lands to reunite all the lands at the former estate. I gave a commitment to the working group that in my time as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Lime Avenue will continue to be pedestrianised. We may, …

There is an issue with Lime Avenue, as Deputy Durkan is well aware. I have a fiduciary duty to staff in the OPW as well. We have had discussions with the unions. There are issues we need to deal with, including health and safety, and I want the report we are doing to be a common basis for discussion. Ultimately, we want to get Castletown House and the grounds fully reopened. There is a combination of factors we have to deal with. The public are uppermost in my mind but, equally, I have a duty to the staff, who clea…

I thank Deputy Stanton very much. I am aware of his continuing campaigning interest in this particular issue. Under the OPW's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme, the OPW provides 90% funding for localised flooding and coastal protection measures undertaken by a local authority. To date, five projects have been approved for a total of €245,892 for Youghal, for both coastal and flooding issues at Pilmore and Gortroe, including for repair of sluice gates and deepening of drains, of which four p…

To give the Deputy an update on the Pilmore Cottages erosion issues, following the visit to the site in 2022 by the then Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Deputy O'Donovan, Cork County Council applied for funding under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme to carry out a coastal erosion and risk management study. The core study area covers approximately 9.5 km of coastline from Youghal to Greenlands Strand or Ring Strand. This includes the specific area of concern and acces…

Deputy Stanton's point is well made. There is a specific study on the way on Pilmore. The question is about how we can get that completed as quickly as possible, while ensuring the study itself is robust and stands up. That is number one. Work is ongoing. The OPW is carrying out a pilot coastal monitoring survey programme. Between the Department of housing and our Department, we are looking at the overall issue of coastal erosion. I will revert to the Deputy definitively on the Land Commission aspect.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 100 together. I thank Deputy Stanton who raised this issue during oral questions last week. I visited Midleton with the Deputy during Storm Babet and I am fully aware of how important it is, both to the Deputy and the people of the wider area. By way of background, the 2018 flood risk management plans provided the evidence for a proactive approach to designing and constructing 150 additional flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities, funded by €1.3 billion from th…

I thank both Deputy Stanton and Deputy O'Connor. I appreciate they are both valued representatives for the Midleton area. Having visited Midleton in my capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for local government at the time, I am aware of what occurred on the ground. I did not have direct involvement but I wanted to see what happened. There is a body of work under way. I am actively working with my officials in the OPW and with Cork County Council. I want to look at this in great depth and then make a vi…

I note the great interest in this topic from TDs both locally and nationally. We are talking really about east Cork, Glanmire and other areas. I have been to Midleton. What we want to do here is protect people's homes and businesses. Wherever flooding takes place it is devastating. We are putting in place a comprehensive scheme in Midleton. It has taken a bit longer than we would have liked but we have had Storm Babet, so it must be legally robust. The OPW is working towards planning with Cork County Council. There…

That is currently being worked through. The intention would be to get it in within the timeframe that is legally possible.

I thank Senator Lombard for raising this important matter today. At his invitation and that of Councillor John O'Sullivan and the local election candidate, John Michael Foley, I indeed visited Ring. I met with the residents. On the night in question, the sun was shining and it was, as Councillor O'Sullivan described it, the equivalent of the Italian Riviera. However, there is a very serious flooding issue there. The walls are very old and porous. I committed to following up on the issue with my Department. I have d…

Once again, I thank Senator Lombard for his comments and insights on this minor works relief application for Ring village submitted by Cork County Council to us in the Office of Public Works. I know the work to date that Senator Lombard has done on this in terms of campaigning for it with the local residents and obviously with his colleagues locally, Councillor John O'Sullivan and Mr. John Michael Foley, who is the local candidate in that area. As I said, I assure the Senator that as soon as the necessary informati…

I thank Senator Murphy for raising this important matter today. By way of background, the Office of Public Works has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial complex estate of approximately 2,500 properties nationally. This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda Síochána and numerous properties for many State agencies. The portfolio also encompasses specialised spaces s…

I thank the Senator for his comments. As stated, there has been engagement . We would like the community groups to come forward with more details on how they propose to use the building, and how they would fund any development and continued maintenance of the property. I ask that they contact our offices immediately in order that we can consider the matter again. The OPW wants assets to be used by community groups. Obviously, in terms of looking as this matter holistically from the point of view of the Exchequer, t…

I join my colleague, the Cathaoirleach, in welcoming the Malaysian delegation, led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. bin Abdul, and the Malaysian ambassador to Ireland. I also welcome the former members of the Catalonian Parliament. They are all welcome to Ireland. As I told the Malaysian delegation, I hope the former members of the Catalonian Parliament get the opportunity to visit Limerick, a city near Shannon that I represent in our Parliament. I thank everyone for the opportunity to address th…

I acknowledge the eight contributors: Senators Dolan, Murphy, Boyhan, Chambers, Black, Kyne, Joe O'Reilly and Carrigy. The comments were very constructive. For me, this is about two aspects. It is about the people of Lough Funshinagh primarily and it is about the SAC of Lough Funshinagh. On a human level it is predicted that the water levels will be higher next winter than now. In practical terms that means we must put measures in place between now and then to bring down the water levels on Lough Funshinagh. It is …

Yes. I am aware of what has happened to these people. Ultimately, however, it comes down to finding solutions we can implement. It is about ensuring that what we do does not put this longer term goal at risk. I understand people's frustrations, but I ask them to stick with us so we can work on this problem by adopting a whole-of-government approach involving the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, me in the OPW, our officials, who are working night and day, and staff from the NPWS and Roscommon County Council. No stone is bei…

As Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, I was very keen to take this Commencement matter myself. I have been in this role for a relatively short period, but I know this subject is of huge importance to the Senator. Progress has been made and I would like to update him on it today. I thank him for raising this important matter and I am pleased to provide an update. I know he has previously raised this with my predecessor. I can see it is a matter he has been raising for quite a significant period. The …

I give that assurance. The mechanism may be that we will update the Department of Transport, which will update the Coast Guard because that is the line Department. I hope the Coast Guard in Courtown is listening to today's debate. The next step requires completion of a due diligence acquisition for the preferred site. Once a suitable site is acquired the OPW will assign a project team to commence the planning and detailed design stage of the project. The tender process will then follow the OPW-managed delivery of t…