Minister Canney welcomes update to Government aimed at speeding up flood relief schemes
Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed an update to Government outlining new measures to speed up the delivery of flood relief schemes across the country.
The update focuses on practical steps to cut delays in planning, design and approvals, so that communities at risk of flooding can get protection sooner.
Welcoming the move, Minister Canney said: “This is about getting things moving faster on the ground. Communities can’t be waiting over a decade for flood protection, and we need to keep pushing to deliver these projects quicker.”
Significant progress is already being made. The Office of Public Works (OPW), working with local authorities, has completed 56 flood relief schemes, protecting more than 13,500 properties nationwide. A further 10 schemes are currently under construction, which will protect an additional 2,880 properties when finished.
However, major schemes can still take on average around 11 years to deliver. The measures in this update aim to bring that timeframe down by up to a year and a half.
Minister Canney said: “We are seeing real progress, but we know the system can work better. This is about cutting out delays, improving how different stages of projects line up, and making sure we’re using our resources in the most effective way.”
The proposals include:
- moving parts of the planning and design process at the same time, instead of one after the other
- simplifying approval and environmental processes
- improving how projects are procured to avoid delays and disputes
- rolling out a new delivery model to speed up early project stages
- progressing legislative changes, including reforms to the Arterial Drainage Act to streamline approvals through An Coimisiún Pleanála
Minister Canney added: “These are practical changes that will make a real difference. At the end of the day, this is about protecting homes, businesses and communities, and making sure people see progress where it matters most.”
These measures form part of the Government’s wider work under the Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan, which is focused on improving how major projects are delivered and ensuring critical infrastructure can move from planning to construction much faster.