Securing value for money is a central priority for both this Government as well as the Office of Public Works, OPW. It is at the heart of all decision-making at every stage of a policy, project or programme's lifecycle, as it should be. Securing value for money is both a priority as well as our duty. It is at the forefront of decision-making on all projects in the OPW, at all stages. The OPW is obliged to adhere to the robust guidance in place to treat public funds with due care and always ensure we pursue optimal value for money. I assure the Deputy that we take our responsibility and obligations very seriously. The OPW takes a structured and thorough approach to delivering value for money across both its capital and current expenditure programmes, with the capital expenditure programme grounded in the principles and requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and adherence with the capital works management framework. The capital works management framework aims to deliver cost certainty, better value for money and more efficient project delivery. This is achieved through standardised contracts, guidance notes and a structured approach to project management. The OPW follows this policy instrument to deliver compliant tender processes and construction projects, ensuring that projects achieve value for money, are delivered in an efficient manner, and meet the needs of Government and our clients across the system. In addition, new guidance on capital works projects with an estimated value of less than €500,000 was fully implemented earlier this year. This guidance covers the approval and oversight for smaller capital works projects and will further strengthen project oversight, regardless of project size. All the recommendations of the internal audit report in March have now been implemented and are assisting in embedding additional value for money consideration and evidence across OPW projects.

Sentiment score: 0.44

As the Deputy is aware, the OPW is a significant and large organisation with a wide-ranging remit. It is currently processing 100 flood scheme projects and maintains 11,500 km of channel and 800 km of earth embankments. It maintains over 2,000 properties, including offices, Garda stations, parks, gardens, heritage buildings, accommodation for over 50,000 civil servants, which is up by 15,000 over the last ten years, and over 500 office buildings nationwide. It deals with 38,000 client requests through the OPW help desk and with 15 million visitors a year, which is great for our touristed areas. I assure the Deputy I will not be found wanting as the head of my Department. Since I came to the Department, I inherited the problem everyone mentions in relation to the bike shelter, but I assure the Deputy that rules and regulations have been brought in. With the Department and I working together, along with the chairman of the OPW, I am quite satisfied that what happened in the past will not happen in the future. The Deputy raised a question on Castletown.

Sentiment score: 0.26

As the Deputy mentioned, I work closely with the Minister, Deputy Chambers. As I said, we brought in all these new rules and regulations. I am quite satisfied that as we go forward with the projects the OPW carries out, we will do them within budget and on time. We have a huge portfolio and an awful lot of areas. In some cases, we have to work with contracts. When I say that we "work with contracts", I mean that we could go into a site where we were to do work on a roof but discover halfway through there is more work to be done with that roof. Do we then stop the contract or the people doing the work? No, we have to continue on. I will continue to do that in the best interests of the public in terms of value for money. I am working right across the board with all Departments, mostly with my own, to deliver value for money. That is the echo coming across from everybody in government. We have learned from the past but we have to move on. We cannot stop the progress of delivering for the people of Ireland. We talk here all day about infrastructure projects not getting going, but we cannot keep going back to the past. We have to learn from the past, which we have done, but we have to move forward and move forward together as a Government.

Sentiment score: 0.05

The Shannon flood risk State agency co-ordination group was established by the Government in 2016 to enhance the ongoing co-operation of all State agencies involved with the River Shannon and to introduce co-ordinated solutions that may have a benefit in managing flood risk in the Shannon catchment. The group is focused on prioritising actions and activities that can help manage flood risk along the River Shannon. A programme of strategic maintenance for 24 sites along the River Shannon has been approved by the group and Waterways Ireland is carrying out this work on its behalf. I announced that funding of €2 million is available for such maintenance. I have asked my officials to engage with other key stakeholders along the Shannon to identify further sites that they believe may require maintenance. The group approved the appointment of an ecological consultant to carry out high-level environmental studies in relation to a proposed project of the removal of pinch points along the Shannon Callows. The findings of this study highlight that significant environmental assessment is required to fully assess the impact of any such project. The group has established a dedicated working group to consider next steps, including the consideration of further options to address flood risk on the Shannon Callows. In 2016, the group agreed to introduce the protocol to reduce the levels on Lough Allen. The ESB has obtained a section 21 licence under the wildlife Acts from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to continue with the temporary operation of the protocol to reduce the lake levels on Lough Allen for this coming winter period. The group also produces an annual work programme to identify extensive work and the co-ordination under way to manage the Shannon. The plan encompasses phase works, maintenance, management, policy and planning. The group’s website, rivershannongroup.ie, was recently launched. The website contains information on the significant programme of flood relief schemes that the OPW is progressing in partnership with local authorities. This programme protects communities in the Shannon catchment and provides real-time information on the management of water levels by ESB and Waterways Ireland. Minutes of the meetings of the group and plans can also be found on the website. I remain fully committed to working with the group and key stakeholders to improve the management of flood risk on the River Shannon.

Sentiment score: 0.26

I did outline plans, Deputy. As I said, a total of 24 strategic maintenance works will be carried out over the next number of months. Since I resumed my role in the Office of Public Works, I have put forward a number of changes, particularly with regard to the minor works scheme, where local authorities play a key role. I changed the criteria from €750,000 to €2 million. That gives a greater role for the local authority to come to my Department to seek funding to do works, particularly for the areas mentioned in the Deputy's question. I know the issues regarding the River Shannon at first hand. I know the trauma they cause people. I must also point out, as the Deputy mentioned, that the area of Athlone and Meelick is almost flat. It is only a foot of a fall. We are after having so much rain over the last number of days and levels are rising. I understand the concern from the farmers up and down the callow system, but I assure the Deputy that I am doing everything within my power, working with the agencies that are involved, to alleviate the problem for people. It is not easy. Climate change is having a real effect. People talk about what has happened over 40 years, but 40 years on, we see the difference from climate change and the effect it has had. I am working, and continue to work, with all agencies but particularly with the farming community along the Shannon. If you look at what we have done from Athlone right down to Limerick and all the flood schemes that are in place, that is enormous, as are the other works being carried out. I also should say to the Deputy that I announced a vegetation blockage and cleaning scheme. Funding can be sought from my Department for such works. That is open.

Sentiment score: 0.03

I have responsibility for the Shannon from one end to the other. I meet many different groups and I understand fully where everyone is coming from. As I said to the Deputy at the outset, we all have to work together. The flooding of the Shannon onto a flat surface is a major problem arising from climate change. I met the group the Deputy mentioned after taking up my role. I will meet it again next week and I will set out what we are going to do over the next number of months. When I was in government previously, I undertook huge changes to the Shannon in terms of strategic maintenance. We put machines on the river when a machine had not been on the river for a great number of years, or ever. As the former Deputy Denis Naughten said, there had not been one since Queen Victoria left. We achieved it and we did it. I can honestly say that in my five years of absence, very little machine work happened on the Shannon, but I am now back at the helm and I will work to make sure we deliver. I will try to work with the local community, particularly the farmers. I have a role to play from one end of the Shannon to the other. The changes I have made are significant in bringing forward and helping local businesses, the local farming community and householders. We all need to work together. Everyone is jumping up and down on social media blaming the OPW and the Government. The Minister on my right has given me the money to do the work, but there are environmental things I must adhere to. The Deputy knows that if I went in and did the opposite, like what happened in Lough Funshinagh, we would be back to the drawing board and nothing would get done. It is about us all working together with the Save Our Shannon Organisation and every other organisation to deliver for the communities.

Sentiment score: 0.13