As the Minister knows, many settlements in east Cork were devastated by flooding during Storm Babet in October 2023. I met with the Midleton and East Cork Flood Protection Group last Friday, alongside my colleague, Councillor Eamonn Horgan. There is growing concern and frustration within the community about the rate of progress of flood relief works. We have had major delays with the installation of floodgates on homes and businesses and there are questions about their quality. The Midleton flood relief scheme is making its way very slowly towards the planning phase. However, smaller scale projects that would protect villages such as Mogeely, Castlemartyr, Killeagh and Rathcormac appear to be in limbo. Their residents are increasingly worried for the future. The flood risk that is particular to Whitegate, Ballinacurra, Ladysbridge and Youghal needs to be addressed. It is vital that the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, visits all the settlements in east Cork as a matter of urgency for an in-depth engagement in order that we have a clear roadmap on all aspects of flood relief for the months ahead. It would also be good to see the Taoiseach there because this is a huge issue for east Cork.

I appreciate the urgency of this for residents in Midleton and throughout east Cork. I was there with Deputies O'Sullivan and O'Connor after the storm nearly two years ago. A priority for the Government with regard to broader infrastructure more generally and for flood relief schemes in particular is how we can shorten the project life cycle. In many instances, flood schemes are taking far too long. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is leading on that work, but is also seeking to prioritise flood relief schemes around the new national development plan review, which is being undertaken. I will ask him to respond to the Deputy on the specifics relating to the schemes he mentioned. It is an absolute priority. The Minister of State is trying to advance and commence some of these schemes, which I know are of pressing need to communities that are worried, particularly as we enter the winter period when there will be a considerable concern about rainfall.