I want to raise two important issues of which the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is very aware, namely, flood protection on Bridge Street in Killybegs and Inver, both of which he visited. These are major issues for people living in those communities. It is about homes, businesses, livelihoods and people's sense of security. The erosion at Inver is an immediate and ongoing concern for these residents. The Office of Public Works, OPW, previously provided funding for coastal protection works, including €54,000 in funding for the Inver project. Donegal County Council has been charged with progressing the works along with the OPW. I want to establish where these works stand. Residents have been living in fear after major storms, and very high tides could cause further damage.

We know that the coastal landscape is changing. There is a national challenge. The Government has recognised that rising sea levels and storm surges constitute a major problem and the OPW has been given the co-ordination role of assessing these risks. The national strategy is important for the people of Inver but what they really want to know is when the works will be on the ground. I, therefore, ask the Minister of State for a clear update on the Inver project. What is the current status of the work? When can we expect the timeframe for commencement? Can the Minister of State give me some clarity today so that I can go home and reassure these people? The Minister of State gave a guarantee that this work would be done long ago but it still has not been done and the people there are living in fear.

I believe the Minister of State visited Bridge Street in Killybegs twice and spoke to the people there. On 23 and 24 November 2024, days that will live in my memory, I got a phone call at 5.30 a.m. that Bridge Street was flooded. I immediately went there and but for the quick thinking of the residents, a lot more damage could have been done. Sixteen houses and nine businesses were affected. The impact on businesses was enormous. Following that, the OPW and Donegal County Council agreed a pilot project of flood relief measures. These included channel clearance, drainage work, assessments of drainage networks, a non-return valve and a review of the hydrology data so that the November 2024 flood event would inform future designs. There was serious rainfall surrounding Killybegs on 27 August. That night, the people in Bridge Street were up in arms. The phone never stopped ringing. They thought they were going to be in the eye of the storm again but, thankfully, it abated and there was no problem on Bridge Street.

We want to know what works have been done but what the people really want to know is what is happening next. When can the residents go to bed and sleep easy if there is a yellow weather warning? We seem to be stuck with one hand not knowing what the other is doing. We need clarity today for the residents of Bridge Street and to tell them what will be done so that they can rest easy when they go to their beds at night when there are severe rainstorms.

As the Senator knows, I am very familiar with flood and coastal erosion risks across Donegal, having visited the county in February this year. Coastal erosion and localised flooding issues are matters in the first instance for each local authority to investigate and address. Each local authority may carry out flood mitigation and coastal erosion works using its own resources or it may apply to the OPW for funding under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme.

Since its introduction in 2009, some €70 million has been approved under the scheme. Of this, the OPW has approved €2.4 million in funding to Donegal County Council for 45 projects. In May 2026, I announced the revised criteria for the minor works scheme. The revisions include an increase in the upper threshold in funding for projects from €750,000 to €2 million and an increase in the OPW contribution from 90% to 95% for approved funding above €300,000.

The Government recognises the risks associated with climate change and that increases in sea levels and storm surges will result in increased frequency of coastal erosion.

In response to these challenges, the recommendations outlined in the report of the interdepartmental group on national coastal change management strategy are being implemented. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage holds the lead co-ordination role and is responsible for chairing an interdepartmental steering group on coastal change management. The OPW has been designated by the Government as the national lead co-ordinating body for the assessment of coastal change hazards and risks and the assessment of technical options and constraints.

I saw first hand the coastal erosion risks at Inver earlier this year when I met the local community on site. To date, the OPW has approved €112,500 for four projects in Inver to manage the erosion risk. Donegal County Council has proposed works to the existing sea wall at Inver that include the construction of a row of rock armour along a line of existing gabions to provide protection from further damage. Today, I am approving a further €12,668 in additional funding sought this week by Donegal County Council to enable the delivery of these important works. This brings the total amount of OPW funding for this project to €62,668.

The OPW’s catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme identified Killybegs as a community that required a flood relief scheme. Under the national programme, work is under way on some 100 flood relief schemes identified through the flood risk management plans. As is common in many areas, sourcing the specialised engineering skills needed for these projects is challenging. As such, it is not feasible to deliver all the flood relief schemes concurrently and the programme has been subdivided into two tranches, focusing initially on the first tranche of flood relief schemes.

The revision to the OPW minor works scheme that I announced in May allows local authorities to introduce interim measures in communities like Killybegs, pending the completion of a scheme for the town. When I met with the council and the local community in February, I asked the council to bring forward proposals for interim measures. The council is working on advanced measures to deliver flood protection, particularly for the Bridge Street area, in the aftermath of the flooding that occurred in November 2024. Costings are currently being developed that, if acceptable, will enable the progression of a design to mitigate the flood risk to Bridge Street. I have asked my officials to engage with the local authority on these proposed solutions.

I thank the Senator and he is right. Only a few months ago, I was here in the Seanad giving an update on flooding throughout the whole country. I heard the pain from every Senator who spoke in relation to that and on that basis, I made changes to the minor works scheme. Senators, no more than TDs, need to go to the local authorities and work with them to drive on the schemes. The money is there. I made the changes to allow them to deliver on the schemes.

Regarding Inver, my people have been engaging with the people I met that day and, in particular, with the local authority. They are all ready to go and start that project. There was a shortfall in the funding but I made that money available today.

On Killybegs, I feel the pain of people up and down the country but especially in Killybegs. I danced with the people on the street that day and I gave a firm commitment. On that firm commitment, my people, following Senator Boyle's request a week and a half ago, have engaged with the local authority. I make no bones about the fact that I have no sympathy for any local authority because the money is there. I want it to come in for the scheme. In the case of Killybegs, and to be fair to the local authority, it is working on a design solution and said it would be back to my Department in the next couple of weeks. Senator Boyle says that we had a fine summer but there is only a certain window in which we can do this work. That window has now started, so I would like to see Inver and Killybegs progressing. When Killybegs flooded in 2024, the Senator came to me and I secured and provided funding. I will do the same in relation to the middle of the town as well. I gave a commitment to the people and to Senator Boyle and I want to deliver on that.