8. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update regarding investment in critical infrastructure in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50878/26]

Sentiment score: -0.10

Will the Minister provide an update on investment in infrastructure in the west of Ireland?

Sentiment score: 0.00

I want to raise a really important piece of infrastructure from a tourism perspective in County Galway, which is Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. The Minister may be aware that this iconic landmark has remained closed to the public in recent years. It is in the ownership of the Shannon Group. There have been attempts to have ownership transferred to Galway County Council with a view to the council bringing it up to a safe standard and ultimately reopening it but funding issues have prevented that from happening. As per an update provided by Galway County Council, I understand that the OPW and the Department of housing are now exploring acquiring the castle and that an expression of interest may have been made. That would be very much welcomed by the local community, who are very eager to see the building in new ownership and ultimately opened up to the general public again. It has been a huge loss to the tourism offering in Kinvara and the wider region. This question might be more appropriate for the Minister of State, Deputy Moran. Will he confirm that this is being explored or at least give me a commitment that he will come back to me with an update?

Sentiment score: 0.24

I am going back to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran. This is in relation to the castle. It is a key and world-class attraction on the Wild Atlantic Way. This castle has been closed for the past three years, as I mentioned, and is a huge loss to the local community. I know the OPW has a lot of other similar sites in County Galway, of which Athenry Castle and Portumna Castle are two that come to mind, and the OPW does a good job of running those sites. They are fantastic attractions, and I have a lot of confidence and faith in the OPW's ability to make a success out of Dunguaire Castle as well. Local people would welcome the OPW being involved in that particular castle. I urge the Minister of State to do everything he can to progress it. It is an awful shame to see the castle closed. We need to see the remedial works being done to bring it to a safe standard and, ultimately, reopened to the public. I welcome anything the Department or the OPW can do to progress that.

Sentiment score: 0.29

17. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the South Galway Flood Relief Project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50877/26]

Sentiment score: 0.16

I ask the Minister to provide an update on the south Galway flood relief project and a timeline for delivery of this scheme, which is critical to protect homes in the area.

Sentiment score: 0.53

As the Minister of State will be aware, flooding in south Galway caused devastation in previous years. This scheme has been on the cards for a long time. There is frustration locally at the slow pace of delivery and that communities in the area continue to be left exposed as a result. The weather has become more changeable and extreme. We have seen the impact that flooding has had in the south-east in recent times as well. There is a real fear in south Galway that the longer this drags on, the more it increases the likelihood of a severe event impacting the area again. The last timeframe I was given for submission of the scheme for planning was quarter 4 2026. That had been pushed back a number of times but now in my most recent questions to the Minister of State's office, that timeline has disappeared completely. Now, there seems to be no timeline for the project and that is concerning. I appreciate that this is complex environmentally but it is extremely urgent. People's homes and livelihoods are at stake. Will the Minister of State give a renewed timeline today and an assurance to the community?

Sentiment score: -0.08

I acknowledge that Galway County Council's engineers are doing great work on this. The south Galway flood relief committee has documented the issues and delays the scheme has faced. The Minister of State mentioned the NPWS engagement. That was originally scoped just around one technical question on the flow controls but that has since seemed to have blown up into a full environmental review of the scheme. It has dragged on for 18 months. A timeline needs to be put on this to bring it to a conclusion. As has been mentioned, the committee there is keen to meet the Minister of State, go through these issues and discuss them with him. I hope that can be facilitated. I hope we can progress this as quickly as possible and get a renewed timeline in place because it is so important to protect the homes and businesses in the area.

Sentiment score: 0.35