Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Department will make contact. That is what we are looking at. We need to look to see that the next storm - God knows when it will come - does not impact on those floods if they can be prevented.

I am conscious there are a lot of delays in rolling out these schemes at different stages. Burnfoot is a good example of delays. I think everybody was up at the time Burnfoot flooded. It was terrible. A large number of properties were affected. The Government landed with helicopters and all the rest. Much of the damage done at that time to properties such as in Swan Park has been rectified. The issue is the Burnfoot flood relief scheme still has not progressed. It is currently at stage 1. I understand we are talking about 2025, eight years after the flood, for these houses to be protected. The Minister of State may be aware that eight families were vacated from their council homes due to the flooding in August 2017. These properties remain vacant in the middle of a housing crisis, with those still resident in the area remaining at risk from future flooding. Will the Minister of State provide an update on the Burnfoot flood relief scheme? I am aware that in a response to my colleague, Deputy Mac Lochlainn, in October last year, the Minister of State agreed to meet members of the Inishowen municipal district. I know Jack Murray, a councillor who was on the ground with me at the time, is keen for that to happen. Will the Minister of State commit to meeting them? If so, when is that planned?