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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“The pilot is being delivered by Donegal County Council, which is tasked with scoping and managing contracts for specialist consultants and contractors who will complete the flood relief works. The pilot will categorise the magnitude of the flooding in 2024 against historic flooding in 2017 and in 2012. Proposed measures will be modelled to assess their benefits and crucially to ensure there is no increased flood risk elsewhere. In the end all proposed works will aid in understanding the delivery of the main flood relief scheme for Killybegs, which is on the flood risk management plan for the county. Advanced works implemented through the pilot scheme will not provide the same standard of protection as the main scheme, but will help to reduce the impact, particularly during lower magnitude floods.”
“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 business. Following on from this serious event, the OPW met Donegal County Council to review the potential flood relief measures. Donegal County Council and the OPW have worked together to prepare a list of potential flood relief measures and have agreed a pilot scheme to roll out, which will be 100% funded by the OPW.”
“Is the Deputy telling me that we should not protect the people who work here? Doing so is totally wrong. It is unfair that the Deputies would come in criticising every element of what we do when we are all elected by the people and doing our best to serve them. We will continue to do so.”
“Excuse me. They talk about the security hut. Let me remind everyone in the House, some of whom sit on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, that nothing can happen around the Houses without the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission knowing. It in the framing of the House. Nobody asked a question about security. The hut cost €300,000 but what goes on as part of security to protect the people in this institution?”
“I was the first one to apologise to people for mistakes made. However, when people come in here and talk about bike sheds, they should get it right. Bike shelters is what they are. This is a listed building. This is a building that is cherished by people all over the world, including the people of Ireland, and we cannot just dig up, throw in and do what you bloody well like, which is what the Deputies opposite are suggesting. They talk about the security hut-----”
“Excuse me, Deputy. Everyone in this House had a chance to stand where I am. Every single one did but they all failed. They went to the rung of the ladder, went out on social media, went on radio and television, and talked about government but they failed to go into government. I went in because I believe I can make changes. I believe I can deliver-----”
“The OPW is not building a wall at the Hill of Tara; it is carrying out maintenance work on a wall at the Hill of Tara. It might have gone on for 12 years and it might go on for another 12, but the Hill of Tara never closed. It was open to business for everybody to enjoy-----”
“However, agreements and guidelines are required to be developed as a result of the investigations by the Comptroller and Auditor General and continue to be developed where there has been a waste of public money. A lot has come up today. The debate started off with a critique of the public sector from Independent Ireland. During the general election campaign, which is not that long ago, they talked about a Luas for every town in Ireland. They came in here today and established an Elon Musk-type approach of killing the system and the people, the very people who are providing for this country. A lot of the talk about the OPW refers to the Hill of Tara. People love social media, love to go out, and love to stand and take pictures of themselves. They talk about a wall having been built for the past 12 years.”
“I acknowledge the diligent, comprehensive investigation by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and its staff in fulfilling its constitutional duty to provide annual reports on public services of the highest quality, based on the office's investigation into the efficiency of public expenditure under section 9 of the Comptroller and Auditor General Act 1993. It would be an unnecessary waste of public moneys to duplicate this work of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General by using the private sector. The Government has put in place a framework over many years to ensure value for money is achieved, as well as a number of public sector professional services to assist public bodies in delivering value for money.”
“The Government approved a number of priority actions to improve the delivery of the national development plan projects, including the introduction of infrastructural guidelines in December 2023, and to reduce the administrative burden on Departments charged with infrastructure delivery. These actions will boost the delivery of critical infrastructure in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. Examples are the approximately 300 schools building projects annually and BusConnects. In my constituency, I welcomed recently developments in relation to the upgrading of the N4 for the people of Longford-Westmeath.”
“As Minister of State in the office of the OPW, I know of the benefits to communities and the relief felt by people in local rural communities across Ireland regarding flood works. On Friday, I look forward to meeting the people of Crossmolina, County Mayo, to mark the beginning of the construction of long-awaited €13.5 million flood works for the River Deel. This will protect the town from the effects of climate change. That said, I recognise the delivery of capital projects has been challenged by a number of significant factors in recent years, including the continued impact of construction inflation on projects; labour shortages, particularly in the construction sector; and the ongoing delays in getting projects through the planning system.”
“As mentioned by the Minister in his contribution to the debate, the Government continues to invest in important public services and provides value for money, including through the expansion of health services, increases in core social welfare allowances, increased investment in housing, and the expansion of the hot school meals programme. Investing in infrastructure is a critical component in supporting Ireland's growth and delivering better, fit-for-purpose public services. The increased capital expenditure in budget 2025 continues to deliver on the national development plan, which provides the vital infrastructure we need to support the future economy and meet social requirements and our climate change commitments.”
“The Government amendment counteracts the narrative being put forward by the Opposition that the Government, over recent years, has not been putting oversight and accountability at the heart of expenditure and management. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is a wide range of frameworks that public bodies must follow to ensure value for money and accountability at the highest level. The Government, in its expenditure, has provided a robust response to the challenges faced by our country, including ensuring value for money is achieved in delivering on the expansion of services. This is a priority of the Government. In order to protect our economy and people, sensible choices were made in budget 2025, allowing growth in a sustainable way, investing in a better future and providing a sustainable approach to the environment.”
“I thank the Deputies for their contributions to the important debate on value for money in public expenditure. I agree that there has been a comprehensive and robust discussion. I thank the Deputies for proposing this debate and giving me the opportunity to assure the people of Ireland that the Government has put value for money at the heart of decisions on public expenditure by listing out some of the comprehensive frameworks that public bodies are obliged to follow and implement. Following on from the Minister's remarks, I would like to emphasise again, on behalf of the Government, that the Government condemns the waste of public money and ensures frameworks are in place to provide the necessary accountability and oversight in respect of public spending.”
“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.”
“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 very much driven by the local authorities. It is something I, in taking up this role, will be driving on that bit further because the local authorities can do more. There is no question that the money is available to support them. I am not going to tell the Deputy today that I will visit Tallow as I have many places to visit.”
“Officials from my Department have previously liaised with Waterford City and County Council regarding recent flooding events in Tallow and OPW engineers will meet Waterford City and County Council over the coming weeks to discuss the flooding at Tallow and measures available to the council to manage that risk.”
“Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning and construction to some 100. The CFRAM programme did not propose structural flood risk management options to Tallow as it was considered to have a low level of flood risk. The OPW is aware that in October 2023 a flood event occurred in Tallow during Storm Babet. The OPW is reviewing the level of flood risk in Tallow as part of its national review of preliminary flood risk assessments, as required under the EU floods directive.”
“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 roadmap for the Government’s €1.3 billion investment in flood relief measures over the lifetime of the national development plan to 2030.”
“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 coast. Based on what the Deputy has put forward, I assure him that works are being done to ensure we take all measures to protect the coast, particularly the communities involved.”
“These assessments will build upon indicative assessment work previously undertaken by the OPW under the Irish coastal protection strategy study, and comprise a substantial, multi-annual programme of works to assess coastal risk nationally, and then in detail at higher risk locations as a basis for then determining potential viable works to manage this risk. This work will contribute to the work of the interdepartmental steering group on coastal change. The OPW has commenced work programmes and projects to deliver on recommendations from the national coastal change management strategy report to develop the understanding of how our coast is evolving, identify areas prone to erosion, survey the coastline and coastal defences and assess coastal change hazards and risks.”
“The Government recognises the risks associated with climate change and that increases in sea levels and storm surges will result in more frequent 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. Among the key recommendations of the report is the assignment of the lead co-ordination role to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which is responsible for chairing an interdepartmental steering group on coastal change. 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.”
“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 for funding from local authorities for measures or studies costing up to €750,000 can be made under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the total cost is available, subject to meeting specific economic, technical, social and environmental criteria.”
“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 will visit the area. I know the Deputy has sought that in recent weeks. I will let him know when the visit is happening. I will call and see the people myself.”
“Under this scheme, property owners who experienced flooding during Storm Babet in October 2023 may be eligible to apply for receipt of individual property protection measures. Property surveys are currently ongoing, with floodgate delivery to suitable properties commencing in the coming weeks.”
“The OPW understands that the council progressed interim flood mitigation measures for Rathcormac, which were funded under local climate adaptation and resilience grants. These works included the installation of a flood embankment, the upgrade of storm infrastructure, drainage channel clearing and works to roads to improve drainage. Cork County Council can introduce localised flood mitigation measures in Rathcormac with 90% funding from the OPW's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme ahead of a flood relief scheme commencing. Under the minor works scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000. Rathcormac is included in the Midleton and east Cork individual property protection scheme, which is a Cork County Council scheme with €5.8 million funding from the OPW.”
“Since 2018, and working with local authorities, the OPW has trebled, to 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction. The flood risk management plans identified 15 additional flood relief schemes for Cork county. Under the national delivery model, Cork County Council is leading the delivery of six flood relief schemes with nine planned in the next phase, including Rathcormac and Castlemartyr. The OPW is funding nine engineering staff in the council to support its delivery of this programme of schemes. The OPW is piloting a new delivery model to inform the most efficient delivery to be applied for the future 50 tranche 2 schemes nationally, including Rathcormac.”
“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 flood risk management plans simultaneously, due to the limited availability of the required professional and specialised engineering skills. However, the Government is committed to funding these projects through the €1.3 billion available under the national development plan.”
“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.”
“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.”
“There are no buildings under the responsibility of the OPW in Donegal that have been identified to have this issue, to the best of my knowledge.”
“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 may be consistent with the presence of a deleterious material, an inspection is carried out by a suitably qualified engineer. Appropriate sampling and testing may be carried out as required on a case by case basis.”
“----- 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 to work. I put a huge emphasis on delivering value for money going forward in the guidance I have put in place.”
“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-----”
“I believe in the vast majority of projects that come in on budget and on time. I am happy to say that we will see changes going forward due to the guidance I will put in place during the next four to five weeks.”
“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 the Taoiseach. Accountability and value for money were very much across all of our negotiations during the programme for Government. It was the same for my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, last week. I believe in that and I believe in the OPW. I believe in the work it does.”
“The purpose of this guidance is to support efficient project delivery, within budget, in alignment with OPW’s strategic objectives and in support of programme for Government priorities. This guidance will further enhance effective and timely management, adhering to governance and compliance standards to support the oversight of these projects. The guidance will be regularly reviewed to ensure its relevance and alignment with OPW’s evolving needs. I am advised that the guidance will be finalised and in place within the next four to five weeks.”
“This includes the use of the Office of Government Procurement framework agreements, as well as establishing its own frameworks to achieve the most economic outcomes for the delivery of cost savings. These are advertised in eTenders.ie , following the public spending code, infrastructure guidelines to ensure the necessary project appraisals are conducted. In order to address the concerns raised on the delivery of the covered bicycle shelter project in Leinster House, the OPW is finalising guidance for its staff on the approval and oversight of capital projects where the total expected expenditure is anticipated to be less than €500,000. This guidance covers the decision-making processes and the documentation required to inform supporting these decisions.”
“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 money outcomes on all projects under its management. All contracts are subject to approval, monitoring and audit to ensure that value for money is being achieved throughout the procurement and delivery process. The OPW follows public procurement best practice in respect of the large spend under its remit.”