opwmatters
Foreword Patrick O’Donovan Minister of State
Over the past twelve months, many of us have reconnected to the environment on a level that has not been seen in recent decades. Since being appointed as Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, I have been delighted to launch infrastructural and environmental initiatives that will improve the lives of people across Ireland. It is clear that, as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, the next decade will be dominated by environmental issues, such as climate change and the loss of biodiversity. The scale and significance of the OPW’s work on climate mitigation measures, including flood management, biodiversity and energy efficiency is long-established and will continue to grow in importance in the years ahead. Flood relief works undertaken by the OPW are a vital piece of national infrastructure. They impact the lives of a great number of people across Ireland where large communities are reliant on OPW staff and local authority efforts to safeguard their homes and businesses into the future and I want to thank them for their efforts. This past winter, OPW Flood relief schemes in Cork and Tipperary prevented a substantial amount of damage to property during the significant flooding events in southern counties.
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