Kevin Boxer Moran
Longford-Westmeath · Independent · Ireland
“I understand the Deputy's frustration and that of the people in the Gort lowlands. This is a very complex scheme. It is one of the most complex we have in the country. When we talk about swallow holes, turloughs and underground water, it is very complex. That is why we have the experts in the field working on this.”
“There has been a significant amount of public and stakeholder consultation for the scheme and Galway County Council and the OPW are presenting the emerging preferred option. The scheme, when completed, is expected to provide protection to 115 properties: 50 residential and 65 commercial.”
“This is a complex scheme but as the Deputy is aware, I made changes to the minor works scheme to allow local authorities to look at measures to facilitate them and the funding is there in that regard. That could be looked at.”
“I thank the Deputy for his kind words. The OPW does good work right across the region and particularly in his constituency, as he has outlined. I get asked to take over this castle or this monument every day of the week, and I do not have an endless pot to do that.”
“The Office of Public Works, OPW, and Galway County Council are working together on the development of the south Galway, Gort lowlands, flood relief scheme with Galway County Council acting as the lead authority.”
“It is not always the case that the OPW is delaying it; we are not. We are working collectively with Galway County Council in this case and with the people. We have had a number of consultations and I will continue to engage with the Deputy and others. I have been invited down to a meeting there shortly.”
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“It is frustrating given the length of time it is taking but I assure the Deputy that my Department and I are working with the experts to deliver on this scheme. It is something we want to see ourselves.”
“This is a complex scheme but as the Deputy is aware, I made changes to the minor works scheme to allow local authorities to look at measures to facilitate them and the funding is there in that regard. That could be looked at. I make the point to the Deputy that we are so advanced on the scheme and it is so complex - I agree with the Deputy on that - that we have to allow the experts on the ground to deliver on these schemes. I would love to rush it through. I would love to say that to the Deputy but I cannot. I have been down there and have witnessed first-hand what has happened in that part of the country but it is no different to what is happening all over the country. People say we are taking too long but we have one chance to get it right.”
“It is not always the case that the OPW is delaying it; we are not. We are working collectively with Galway County Council in this case and with the people. We have had a number of consultations and I will continue to engage with the Deputy and others. I have been invited down to a meeting there shortly. Like the Deputy, I want to be able to deliver good, positive messages to the people.”
“I understand the Deputy's frustration and that of the people in the Gort lowlands. This is a very complex scheme. It is one of the most complex we have in the country. When we talk about swallow holes, turloughs and underground water, it is very complex. That is why we have the experts in the field working on this. Like the Deputy and everyone else, I get frustrated but I understand when I meet the consultants and officials in my Department that the delays are necessary. We get one chance to get a scheme right and this is one of them. While there is frustration about delays in the scheme, I assure the Deputy that I have put my full resources into trying to deliver this scheme. I have also given the local authorities funding for an executive engineer to drive these schemes on.”
“Should planning for the scheme be granted, Galway County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, will re-engage on the matter of culvert capacity, which came to light while the M18 motorway was under construction.”
“There has been a significant amount of public and stakeholder consultation for the scheme and Galway County Council and the OPW are presenting the emerging preferred option. The scheme, when completed, is expected to provide protection to 115 properties: 50 residential and 65 commercial. Environmental assessments are currently being undertaken for the preferred option, which involves an integrated mechanism to effectively move water through overflow channels across the turloughs in this area. The specific nature of these assessments are being informed by discussions with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. The timeframe for the consent submission depends on the ongoing environmental survey results and the outcome of the NPWS engagement.”
“The Office of Public Works, OPW, and Galway County Council are working together on the development of the south Galway, Gort lowlands, flood relief scheme with Galway County Council acting as the lead authority. Gort lowlands catchment is a karst landscape with a combination of underground water, river water, groundwater, swallow holes and turloughs. It is unique at an international level from an ecological perspective. Due to the complex nature of the area, Trinity College Dublin and Geological Survey Ireland have been contributing to the development of the scheme's design. They are working alongside the engineering and environmental consultants who were procured to develop a viable scheme design.”
“I thank the Deputy for his kind words. The OPW does good work right across the region and particularly in his constituency, as he has outlined. I get asked to take over this castle or this monument every day of the week, and I do not have an endless pot to do that. Galway County Council has reached out to the OPW and meetings have taken place, but I cannot say what further engagements have taken place at this time, but I will come back to the Deputy in due course. His colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, has also raised this issue with me, as have other TDs in the constituency. I will continue to work with the Deputy. If we can work something out together, that is fine, but I cannot give him that commitment today.”
“I will come back to the Deputy. There has been a meeting between Galway County Council and ourselves. I do not know what stage it is at, but if the Deputy bears with me, I will come back to him in due course.”
“It is something that has happened in my constituency over the years and we reached out to help. I give credit to every residents' association up and down the country that takes interim measures. Since coming back into the role involving the Office of Public Works, I have brought in many changes in recent months. I have been meeting people in all the areas flooded since Christmas and providing interim measures. That is a way forward. As those measures are being rolled out, it is open to Cork County Council to look at interim measures to support people in those areas.”
“The Deputy has put about seven questions in a couple of lines there. I give him credit for that. As I said at the outset, there is no mechanism. I am fully focused on protecting the people of Midleton and east Cork. I have put huge efforts in, as has my Department, in relation to working with the council to get our planning applications submitted quarterly. I am advancing on that and want to see it happen as fast as possible to protect people. On the question the Deputy keeps raising, there is no mechanism. I am sorry to say that but there is no mechanism. I have no issue, when I go back down to Midleton, with meeting the people. I think the only option available to them is through the local authority and to see if the council has a discretionary fund that may be able to help them. I do not know if that is possible.”
“Funding was received from the Department with responsibility for the emergency response to support the local authorities going forward but there is no mechanism within my remit to support the residents. While I would love to, I am afraid I do not have the mechanism to do so.”
“As I set out at the start, this falls under the Department of housing. That is not me passing the buck. There is no mechanism in the OPW to refund the residents. I respect the work the residents took it upon themselves to do, and I give great credit to them. I met them in Midleton. Somebody must have advised them when they did this work that they would recoup the money and that is the area they should be focused on, and whether it is through the local authority. In fairness to the local authorities, they are very much engaged with my office. They looked to see whether we could fund it and we said, "No, there's no mechanism in our funding stream to allow us to do that." The job has been done.”
“A planning application is estimated to be submitted by Cork County Council to An Coimisiún Pleanála in quarter 3 of 2026 and be completed by 2031, protecting up to 750 properties that flooded during Storm Babet. The scheme will protect Willowbank residents going forward.”
“The strategic emergency management framework sets out the emergency management practice at national level and designates lead Departments for a range of emergency types. Under this framework, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage leads the response to severe weather events through the national directorate for fire and emergency management. Accordingly, there is no emergency response funding mechanism available in the OPW that would see emergency response actions such as those undertaken by citizens in Willowbank being refunded by my office. The Government is fully committed to providing support through the national development plan, providing €58 million for the Midleton flood relief scheme.”
“I am aware of the devastating impact flooding had on homeowners, businesses and the communities of Midleton and across east Cork during Storm Babet. While the issue raised is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, my office in October 2025 corresponded directly with the Willowbank residents' association secretary, following contact between my office and Cork County Council. Cork County Council advised the OPW that funding had been made available to the council by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to assist with the repair of damaged infrastructure across east Cork following Storm Babet. Cork County Council further advised that the repair of the wall at Willowbank, which was commenced by the residents, was completed using this funding.”
“I was leaving a venue in Mullingar. This was very special to the older community in Westmeath. They thought they would never see it but they saw it. Long may it continue. There was great success for Roscommon and us. That is the centre of the universe, and long may it continue.”
“I will respond to him in due course. I assure all Senators that if they need or want me, I am here at their beck and call, and my office is always open. I am clearly driven and passionate about the OPW, particularly on the flood side of things. I have to and want to deliver to protect communities. I see at first hand how flooding affects people mentally. It affects houses and businesses, and everybody. It does not just affect those people but also the wider community that is not flooded. When my town of Athlone flooded, the town was not closed down but people said Athlone was flooded so people did not come into town. I know the effect on businesses. I am proud to be a Westmeath man. I will tell the House a story. Twenty-two years ago, I had to be brought home by gardaí one night when we won the Leinster championship.”
“We talk about the EU Presidency coming. I have seen at first hand the work that is being done in Dublin Castle. It is not just for the EU Presidency but for years to come. The benefit for this country, going forward, will be enormous. I appreciate everybody in the House. I say to everyone that my office is like a clinic on a Wednesday evening. I am probably the most accessible Minister of State you will get. My office is open to anybody. There are people in the House to whom I have never spoken or engaged with. If people want to engage with me, that is fine. Senator McCarthy is looking at me, but I am not referring to him. He asked me a question earlier and said there was a letter on my desk. There is, but I do not think the property in question belongs to the OPW. I think it belongs to Waterways Ireland.”
“I am the accountable person. I am the person who will stand up and stand over what happens within the OPW. That is my job, as the Minister of State. We had problems in the past. I acknowledged that when I stood up today. I have also acknowledged the changes we have brought about within the OPW. Everything we do now goes through a cost-benefit analysis. My Department and I make sure. My Chairman is very committed, as am I. We work closely with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, on delivering projects for the future of the country. Senators talked about all the lovely gardens. We spoke about the National Botanic Gardens and all those beautiful places. I love them, no more than the Senators. Everyone in Ireland loves them. People come to Ireland to visit these sites. It is extraordinary. Look at Dublin Castle.”
“I was the first Minister of State to allow access to all our OPW sites to children for free. Our sites got 13.5 million visitors last year. That tells you the commitment we have within the OPW to deliver. Some people asked about Garda stations. If we have a Garda station or any other building, we offer it to the local authority first and then all the other agencies. If they take up the offer, they get first priority on the building. Other than that, we work with the Garda and either put the building up for sale or up for auction. I have no control of that until the Garda releases the building to me. We then move on the property. There has been a lot of talk of overspending. I assure everyone here that, in the past 16 or 17 months, we have brought in changes. I am the first one. I will not run. I am the Minister of State.”
“Local authorities are now going to deliver the work in progress before the end of the year. Most of this work does not need planning permission, but if it does, it goes through a Part 8 process over which the local authorities have control. We are very much in that space of delivery. Nobody is more keenly driven by heritage than me. I have driven right across Ireland, from Donegal to Kerry and back. We are hell-bent on delivering on projects. It is not easy to do every project. It is impossible, because the funding is not there. The money that is available to me I wisely choose to use in different locations, geographically spread, so that everybody gets a piece of it. We are not able to do it all, but I assure everyone in the House that I am keenly driven.”
“I know more about it than most. We have discussed some measures today. We have moved from €750,000 to €2 million under the minor works scheme. It is up to the Senators. Each and everyone in the House plays a part. Senators must go to the local authorities and encourage them to get their minor works applications into my Department so I can fund the projects. I brought about these changes to make it easier for local authorities to have access to funding to deliver for the people the Senators represent. We talk about Storm Chandra. Nobody heard about interim measures. Nobody heard about aqua dams. We brought foresight. We experienced ourselves how interim measures worked. We worked in Kerry with various different projects. We brought that work to Storm Chandra, and I delivered.”
“I thank the Senators for their thoughtful remarks and engagement. I deeply appreciate their support and the insights shared in the House. The work of the OPW is built on collaboration through partnership with other State bodies, communities and colleagues. We all hope we can continue to make this progress. I assure Senators that the OPW remains fully committed to serving the public, protecting our heritage and strengthening our resilience against challenges, such as flooding. We are passionate about what we do and we approach every task with humility and a genuine desire to make a difference. I hear people. I cannot respond to everybody individually. Senator Clifford-Lee knows I have set up a meeting. Senator Rabbitte knows the commitment I have given, as does Senator Fitzpatrick. I could talk about flooding until the cows come home.”
“A key focus of our work is supporting apprenticeships in the traditional building and craft skills that are essential for the conservation of our built heritage. I came to the Seanad over 16 months ago and, looking at where the OPW was then compared with where we are today, things have greatly improved. I did not do it on my own; I did it with the whole team. I say this clearly to everybody in the House. I am open to hear what people have to say themselves.”
“The OPW cares for Ireland’s national heritage estate, including 780 national monuments, including the two UNESCO World Heritage sites of Sceilg Mhicil and Brú na Bóinne, and 33 national historic properties, which include places like the Phoenix Park, Kilkenny Castle and Castletown House and estate. In addition, in the region of 100 stone buildings in Dublin are under our care, including Government Buildings, Leinster House, the Custom House, national cultural institutions and Áras an Uachtaráin. The OPW employs a diverse workforce of almost 1,300 people in heritage roles. This dedicated and skilled workforce works daily in conserving the historic buildings of Dublin, maintaining our national monuments throughout the country, and maintaining and presenting our historic gardens and heritage sites to the highest standards.”
“Under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme, the OPW has approved funding to date of €71.6 million for over 930 projects. Completed projects under the scheme are protecting over 8,070 properties. The upper financial threshold for funding is increasing from €750,000 to €2 million for the minor works. The OPW will continue to carry out maintenance on arterial drainage scheme channels and embankments within its remit, with over 1,900 km of channel and 160 km of embankments maintained in 2025. In response to the Storm Chandra flooding earlier this year, I have recently announced that €6.6 million will be made available to eight local authorities to introduce interim flood protection measures in their administrative areas that can help mitigate the impact to communities from a similar flood event, ahead of next winter.”
“The Government has committed €1.3 billion in flood risk management, FRM, measures through the national development plan. As part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW to treble to some 100 schemes at design, planning and construction at this time. The OPW and local authorities have been actively engaged in putting in place the necessary arrangements for the implementation of the priority flood relief schemes and work is well advanced in this regard. Investment in projects associated with flood risk management, measures and programmes reached over €100 million in 2025. This significant expenditure reflects the high number of schemes at construction, with 11 schemes at construction in 2025. The OPW completed the Springfield flood relief scheme in August 2025.”
“As Senators are aware, flooding is a natural process that can occur at any time in a wide variety of locations. Flooding is one of the most significant challenges facing Ireland. It affects homes, businesses, infrastructure and the environment. As someone who has witnessed the devastation of flooding in my own constituency, I am acutely aware of the urgency and importance of our work. The whole-of-government flood risk management policy is centred on three strategic pillars: prevention, protection and preparedness. These policy areas are supported by the collection of relevant data, the development of relevant science and evidence, and undertaking assessments to inform where flood risks, now and into the future, need to be addressed.”
“Early planning and design is progressing for a range of other projects. Priority projects are also under way to support Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July of this year. The Office of Public Works is the contracting authority for these projects, working closely and constructively with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in the role of overall approving authority and with An Garda Síochána as the sponsoring agency under the infrastructure guidelines. The OPW is progressing a major refurbishment of Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, a seven-storey, 16,500 sq. m public building located on Store Street in Dublin 1. This project will comprehensively upgrade, repair and replace end-of-life building services and life safety systems.”
“The Kilcarn Government offices were originally constructed in 2007 and were later purchased by OPW. The floor area is 3,200 sq. m, housing multiple Departments and agencies. In collaboration with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and An Garda Síochána, four new Garda stations are under construction. This programme represents a significant investment of approximately €150 million. Work is ongoing at Portlaoise, Newcastle West, Clonmel and Macroom. In addition, the Office of Public Works is in the process of completing other facilities for An Garda Síochána, including the Garda Training College in Templemore and the property and exhibits management system, PEMS, store building in Drogheda. The Garda estate is spread across the entire country and requires significant ongoing maintenance and renewal.”
“The OPW undertook retrofits of a selection of OPW-managed buildings to develop an evidence base for building performance and develop a roadmap to prepare for a potentially larger national programme. The shared objectives were to deliver a scalable model for future retrofit interventions with a focus on renewable heat sources and a reduction of CO2 emissions. Some projects are ongoing and seven projects have been completed, including Government offices in Waterford, Tralee Garda station, Pallaskenry Garda station, Ennis Block 1 and Togher Garda station, with a combined spend of €6.5 million. The OPW energy upgrade of Kilcarn Government offices in County Meath is an example of this success. It was funded by the European Union under the national recovery and resilience plan, NRRP.”
“The OPW is working in partnership with Limerick 2030 to develop a 14-storey landmark office building that will accommodate up to 1,500 Government employees and form the centrepiece of the site. This project illustrates how central and local government can work collaboratively to deliver key infrastructure, and I was delighted to mark the commencement of this project earlier in the year. Works are advancing on site and the building is expected to be ready for occupation in 2029. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, and OPW agreed to collaborate on the delivery of a building retrofit pathfinder programme from 2022 to 2024, with overall funding of €30 million received from the SEAI.”
“The geographical spread of these projects illustrates Government commitment to balanced regional development and rural tourism. The OPW completed the strategic purchase of the east wing of Block R, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1. Located adjacent to the convention centre, this prime site, secured at a competitive price, demonstrates the OPW's commitment to prudent financial management and represents a forward-thinking investment in public infrastructure. It ensures long-term, high-quality office space for the OPW, reducing reliance on leased properties and generating significant taxpayer savings. Overall, this purchase strengthens the Government's property portfolio and provides a stable asset for future public sector needs. The Limerick opera project shows how targeted urban regeneration can drive balanced regional development.”
“From major construction projects and heritage site enhancements to nationwide cultural celebrations and flood relief and supports, the OPW demonstrates a commitment to both preserving Ireland's culture and heritage and improving infrastructure under its remit. Across all areas of the OPW, major construction milestones include: progression of the Moore Street project to tender stage; commencement of the National Concert Hall's Discover Centre; the commencement of a new regional Garda headquarters in Macroom, County Cork; and the awarding of a contract at Limerick's Opera Square. Redevelopment works include a €1.5 million visitor centre at Carrowmore megalithic site in Sligo and a €1.6 million upgraded visitor centre at Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór in the Aran Islands.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senators for inviting me here. I am delighted to stand before them as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, in order to provide updates on significant progress across a number of priority areas. I am proud to represent an organisation whose work touches every corner of our country, protecting our communities from flooding, preserving our heritage and providing the property and buildings infrastructure that underpins our public life. This Government has entrusted the OPW to deliver projects to the value of €1.845 billion under the national development plan. I am pleased to give the House a sense of some of the great work now under way. To date, this year has seen significant cultural, infrastructural and community-focused initiatives delivered by the OPW across the country.”
“When the report comes out, we will constructively come back to the Deputy and we will work together to deliver it. I cannot interfere with the process. I can bring it to where it is today. If I could interfere, I would do it, but I cannot. The Deputy will just have to wait. While it is annoying for him, as it is for me and the people, I have to wait for that to come in.”
“The Deputy comes in here and gives out the whole time, but he rarely engages in a proper manner to try to constructively deliver this for the people of the community. He comes in and says, "This is delayed. That is delayed." We have to work together for the betterment of those people and protect them. The Deputy knows the objection that was placed on this. He knows exactly the people who placed the objection. He knows what I am doing with him and the people trying to deliver on this. It is unfair of him to come in and accuse us of not working and trying to deliver on that. It is very unfair.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 28 together. I am not going to go and read it. The Deputy knows the story in relation to this. It is with the Department, but we are working together collectively. I am working with the Deputy as-----”
“I can assure the Deputy that I have put a lot of work and effort into this since I spoke to him and my colleagues since he raised this with me before. The commitment is there from the Government in terms of the money. It is about getting the site and the other parts right, and making sure we deliver, as the Deputy said, for the people in the area. They are waiting a long time for that, but I am working within the Departments to make sure we deliver this and get it to construction.”
“I have been inundated with contact from Deputy Brabazon, from my colleague, Deputy Heneghan and from Deputy O'Callaghan himself. I assure the Deputy today that I will work with him and those other colleagues to try to deliver this on time.”
“I am not being critical when I note that the Deputy puts down this question every month. I wish the project would move at the same pace. I recently met with the Minister for justice and asked him for a meeting with him and his officials with a view to speeding up this process. Like the Deputy, I would like to see this delivered. It has been announced and has been going on for quite some time. As I have said in the past, politicians announce things but it takes time to deliver them. Just as a flood scheme takes 11 years, a Garda station normally takes ten, believe it or not. Since this was announced, things have changed in respect of An Garda Síochána. We have to get the development of this site right. It is a highly populated area. The Deputy knows that better than I do. He is there.”
“While an initial market trawl has been completed, the next steps involve refining requirements and selecting the most suitable site for all those requirements, with construction targeted for 2028. I assure the Deputy that the funding is ring-fenced and the commitment is clear. The OPW, the Garda and the Department are working together to ensure momentum is maintained. The Deputy should have no doubt that I will keep him and all public representatives involved informed as the project advances. I welcome ongoing engagement to ensure the community's needs are fully met.”
“Once this process is complete, the Office of Public Works will engage with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to support them in identifying and appraising the most suitable site to support their objectives. I sincerely acknowledge the persistent and constructive engagement of Deputy O'Callaghan and other Deputies. I assure them that the matter remains a priority for my Department and the wider Government. I recognise the frustration caused by the lack of visible progress, and I share the Deputy's concerns about the timeline. The Office of Public Works is actively collaborating with An Garda Síochána and the Department to finalise requirements and conduct a thorough site identification and appraisal process in line with infrastructure guidelines.”
“The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration published its sectoral investment plan on 4 December 2025. The second half of the sectoral investment plan will focus on bringing the projects for Dublin metropolitan region north to construction in 2028. Given the commitment in the Department of justice's NDP sectoral plan, the Office of Public Works is now working with An Garda Síochána to confirm and refine specific requirements in north Dublin. An Garda Síochána is continuing to develop a detailed brief of requirements for Dublin metropolitan region north in collaboration with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.”
“In relation to the issue Deputy Lawlor has raised, I have met with Wexford County Council in recent weeks. My team met with the council again in the last few days to discuss the emergency on the coast at Kelly's Hotel. We have asked the council to fast-forward a minor works scheme that we will fund in the near future. This will happen imminently. The application will be back into my Department and we will rescue the area of the beach in question. I know the level of vulnerability, I know what is at stake in terms of the hotel and I know the suffering that people are enduring but I can assure the Deputy that in the next few weeks he will see action on the ground.”
“Before I take that question, I want to raise an issue with Deputies continuously referring to us in this Chamber as "lackeys". If I stood up in this House and called anyone a lackey, he or she would feel it and I would have to apologise. We represent a group that went into government. I represent the people of Longford-Westmeath who elected me as a TD, not as a lackey. I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to correct Deputies when they refer to us like that in the House. The name calling has to be called out.”
“The long-term scheme, particularly the scheme the Senator is talking about, is down the track. It will not happen today or tomorrow. That scheme is made available to the local authorities. The change I have made to that scheme in going from €750,000 to €2 million is significant and that is for the local authorities. I want to praise, as the Senator rightly said, the engineer and the local authorities. I have been working closely with every local authority, including Kildare. I met some of the team recently. It is not that I have not been aware of the issues there; I am quite clear on them. As regards the measures the Senator talked about, they will be looked at by me and Kildare County Council in the short term.”
“I thank Senator O'Loughlin. She has been on to me a lot in relation to the issues in Kildare and I appreciate the work she is doing to help with what I am trying to do. I did outline to her that the pilot scheme is there but I have also said that the minor works are a way forward. Interim and short-term measures play into the long-term solution. I have been doing this up and down the country. I appeal to the Senator again to go back to the local authorities, where interim works can be carried out to mitigate against flooding, particularly in the context of what we have seen with climate change and the areas the Senator mentioned. I appeal to her to go to the local authorities. I have met, I think, eight local authorities in the past two days and I have been pushing them in that direction.”
“Since 2009 the OPW has approved funding under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme of approximately €1.8 million to Kildare for seven projects.”