I thank the Deputy for his kind words. The OPW has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate - comprising approximately 2,500 properties - including office buildings, Garda properties, heritage properties, visitor centres and national monuments. The OPW also has responsibility for the funding and delivery of flood relief projects across the country and works with local authorities on the delivery of these schemes. The OPW endeavours to ensure best value for …

When the Deputy states I have introduced guidance, I am quite happy with that given that I am only two weeks in the job. I am quite happy to state that in four to five weeks we will be moving and changing how we do things. I am happy to say we get value for money. I went into government. I could have sat on the Opposition benches. I came into government to make changes. I know what it is to make a euro. I know what it is to spend a euro. I also know accountability is very much to the forefront of Government and for…

Sorry?

As stated at the outset, I meant quite clearly that the OPW does very good work. I want to continue with that work and I want to promote the brand and what I believe the OPW stands for. When we talk about some of the articles in the newspaper last week about the overrunning projects, when we go to some of these sites - heritage sites or old buildings-----

----- and take off the roof - it could be a slate, glass or copper roof - the naked eye cannot see what is underneath when it comes to pricing it up. There can be other problems and issues. If I, or my predecessor, had turned around and stopped that project because it was going into an overspend, I would have Deputies in this House asking why there was a delay on this project and what was keeping it from being done. We did what we did in the best interest of getting that project up and running and we will continue …

The OPW ensures the quality of the concrete blockwork used in all its building projects complies with the European standard for masonry blockwork. This requires that the manufacturer shall supply a certificate with each delivery of concrete blocks stating the date of manufacture and that the blocks comply with all the requirements of the standard. It includes a declaration of performance and a European certificate marking and is in accordance with the technical guidance documents. Where a building shows cracks that…

The Deputy asked me about OPW buildings, and I identified not to my knowledge. If the Deputy has knowledge of buildings that are showing signs, he should let me know and we will follow them up. At present, according to what I have in front of me, we do not. However, I assure him that if he comes to me with that, I will take it up.

If a building shows signs, then an engineer is assigned and a safety measure is put in place, but as I said at the outset, to the best of my knowledge we have no buildings in Donegal, and I have nothing in front of me to tell me we have. There is no point in me saying what we are or are not going to do if we do not have buildings with the affected blocks. I ask the Deputy to come back to me.

Which question is this?

I do not have the reply. I understood that it had been changed. I do not have it.

I will. I will come back to the Deputy. I am sorry about that.

I congratulate the Deputy. In the past, I had a great working relationship with his predecessor, so I look forward to working with him in the future. To date, six communities across Cork county are protected from significant flood risk by completed flood relief schemes. Through the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme, the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. It is not possible to progress all 150 flood relief schemes identified by the 2018 flo…

I set out the details regarding Rathcormac. There is availability through the minor works scheme for the local authority to come to my Department to seek funding under that scheme, while we wait for the bigger scheme. We are looking at a pilot scheme for tranche 2, which Rathcormac comes under, but the pilot scheme is not yet finished. I understand it is a year from completion. The minor works scheme is the Deputy's best option at this time to try to help the people at Rathcormac with future flooding resistance. I …

In the first instance, it is the responsibility of each local authority to investigate and address local coastal protection. The minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection schemes were introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the schemes is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood or coastal erosion mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. Applications f…

I did not get to finish my response earlier. I assure the Deputy that we are considering natural methods of protection. We talk about fluvial flooding but coastal erosion is becoming a huge problem. I have seen it in the past, including when I served here with responsibility for the OPW, and I expect it in the future. It will be a major problem. All people, not only those in the OPW but also all Members of the House, need to work together, because the problem has a frightening effect on families right along the coa…

I have to apologise to the Deputy. I am new in the game and have not got the response to the question with me. However, I will send it on to the Deputy.

Nationally, 55 flood relief schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 13,500 properties and an economic benefit to the State, with damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. In 2018, to facilitate the development of a programme of works, the OPW completed a strategic study called the national catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme. The CFRAM programme resulted in the publication of 29 flood risk management plans which provide the roadm…

The local authority can apply for funding under the OPW’s minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme to address flooding experienced in Tallow. The purpose of this scheme is to provide 90% funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies costing up to €750,000 to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. I advise the Deputy to speak to the local authority first as the minor works scheme is available. It is v…

As I said, the OPW will provide assistance to the local authority but the latter needs to drive the scheme and push it on. The money and the minor works scheme are in place. All the local authority has to do is put forward its proposals through the scheme. My engineers and staff are meeting local authorities in the Deputy's area and we will see what comes out of that.