Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all of the officials from the various agencies to the meeting. It is important that we discuss and debate the issues of concern to committee members and, indeed, the wider public. When we consider our national transport routes, whether they are motorways or rail networks, it is important that we acknowledge and identify where problems arise. That is why we are discussing the issue of flooding at Ballycar in County Clare and how flooding has a negative impact on the Galway to Limerick railway line. I am from Waterford which is in the south east, so this issue does not impact on me personally, but I have an overall interest in sustaining the national rail networks. I supported Deputies and Senators when they sought this debate and asked the committee to invite the representatives that are here before us today. I have no problem supporting them again. I want to put it on the record that I am disappointed that some of the Deputies who promoted this issue are not present today for a debate, a fact that should be noted on the minutes of this meeting.

With regard to flooding on the Galway to Limerick railway line, I found the various submissions interesting. I note that Iarnród Éireann commissioned RPS Consultants to carry out flood risk assessments and to bring forward recommendations of which there were five in total. As somebody who lives outside of the region but is an observer who is interested in sustaining the national rail lines, it seems to me that when State agencies are not directly responsible, while they will say they will facilitate, that they are available to assist and that they acknowledge the problem, unfortunately, when it comes to putting their hands in their pockets and dealing with the problem, they run a mile. I am being blunt when I say that but that is what this looks like. It is not in the national interest for the State agencies to do so. I also say that directly to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Clare County Council and to the Office of Public Works, OPW. Iarnród Éireann is experiencing a very real issue with a significant piece of our national transport infrastructure. I am disappointed with the representatives of our State agencies, who represent our citizens who depend on them to act in their best interests. The answers and submissions are now on the public record and sound like these people have washed their hands of the problem.

Five recommendations have been made and the optimal solution was put forward by Iarnród Éireann. I am disappointed by the silo mentality that has become apparent straight away, and we have seen this happen with many issues of public concern. The attitude adopted is one where if it is not my problem, it is someone else's problem, I will give it lip service, I will talk about it, I will offer my help, I will offer to facilitate, but when it comes to dealing with it and putting my money where my mouth is, it is not my problem. Essentially, there is no solution.

Iarnród Éireann wants to invest €10 million in raising the railway line but I believe that is not a good way to spend taxpayers' money. I am sure the company could find a lot better ways to invest that €10 million such as promoting more use of rail services. Iarnród Éireann depends on the assistance of other agencies and the assistance of the State. I am disappointed with the replies that I have heard from the various agencies. They will walk away, which is their right from today, as it is not their direct responsibility, but the problem will remain. Until the next flood arises and citizens kick up again and flooding becomes an issue of public awareness, the agencies will make statements and repeat the cycle but the problem will remain unresolved. It is important that we have had this debate because we have been afforded an opportunity to hear the witnesses' replies and put them on the record. There is no point in beating around the bush. The problem is not resolved.

I will take the opportunity to deal with some other issues. I mentioned the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It is important that the delegation is here. I wish to acknowledge the organisation's important statutory role in the protection of our natural heritage and conservation.

During flooding events in the area that I represent in the south east, and I refer to where the River Suir and its catchment area experienced serious flooding, I detected poor co-operation from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I saw farmland flooded and people being put out of their homes due to flooding. When attempts were made to repair the riverbanks, however, all that the National Parks and Wildlife Service meted out was bureaucracy, licensing and planning issues. These issues are not a primary concern when somebody is on their knees, and I mean farmers who had their land and property flooded and who were forced out of their homes. The National Parks and Wildlife Service can rightly point to EU directives, national policy and all the rest, but I am talking about a time when citizens have had to leave their homes and land due to flooding. All those citizens want to do is repair a breach in a riverbank, yet they are read the riot act about bureaucracy.

Rather than trying to gain stakeholders' support for conservation and the protection of habitats etc., which we all should try to achieve, all I know from being a public representative for the past 20 years is that the National Parks and Wildlife Service has gone the wrong way about things. If we want to garner support for conservation and protection, we need to engage with stakeholders in a proactive way, identify their problems and show empathy when people experience problems. When a family have been forced out of their home due to flooding, they do not want to hear about bureaucracy, directives and rules. All they want to hear are solutions.

This is not the way that national agencies should work towards solutions. Rather than bureaucracy and orders, we should consider engagement, solutions and protocols in times of an emergency. I mean instances where directives and orders may be circumvented in the event of an emergency so that a breach on a riverbank can be repaired, thus getting people back into their homes. If that is done, then State agencies will receive great support from local communities. I would like the witnesses to respond to my comments.

We are here to talk about solutions to flooding problems, but there is not a solution in every case. We all know and have to accept that there are flood plains, but there are practical solutions to difficulties where citizens are impacted on, whether on a railway line, a farm or in a house, and we should all work towards them.

One of the best ways to travel is by rail. It is peaceful and a person can work or engage in good conversation while travelling. It is also very safe. I do not believe, however, that we are doing enough to promote rail travel. I see the odd advertisement on television, but the benefits are not being sold to the younger generations. Older people have used rail services far more than young people. One could point to the motorway network and the increased use of cars. Every young person now has a car. Every family possibly has two or three cars, especially in rural Ireland, but if Iarnród Éireann sold the benefits of rail travel better, there would be increased use, even during a trial period. It needs to do more in that regard.

Does Iarnród Éireann have plans under the new national planning framework, Ireland 2040, to invest more? Mr. Meade spoke about enhancing routes from Dublin to various cities. He said "improved inter-city journey times will be targeted on the Dublin to Belfast, Dublin to Cork and the Limerick and Galway routes." As somebody who comes from the city, I am very disappointed that Waterford is only mentioned as an afterthought, with County Kerry and Westport. According to Ireland 2040, the population of the city is expected to double from almost 50,000 to 100,000. I would not, therefore, have expected Waterford to be an afterthought. As one of the five cities identified in the national planning framework, I expect it to be a priority. I, therefore, urge Iarnród Éireann to upgrade what I have just read from the submission to ensure Waterford will be a high priority. There are huge plans for the redevelopment and regeneration of the entire north quays and Plunkett Station. CIE and Iarnród Éireann are co-operating with the various stakeholders in moving the plans forward. Waterford has to be a priority. As it is just 20 years away, we need to plan now for the priorities identified in Ireland 2040. Iarnród Éireann has huge responsibilities in that regard. I would like to hear responses to my questions.

Rosslare Europort has been mentioned. I understand Waterford Port is one of the only ports in the country where the railway line passes directly through the port, next to where ships berth. It is essential that there be investment to take some of the heavy freight off the roads and use the rail infrastructure which I believe is an asset to deliver freight from elsewhere in the European Union and around the world to Waterford Port and Rosslare Europort, if necessary, and redistribute it throughout the country through the rail network. I would be interested in hearing a response on this point.

I welcome the co-operation of CIE and Iarnród Éireann on greenway development. It is a huge area of growth. In County Waterford we have seen the advent of the Waterford city to Dungarvan greenway, one of the biggest tourism success stories we have had. There were challenges in and barriers to getting back land that had originally been part of the railway line and which had been taken over by landowners. By way of the proactive approach taken by Waterford City and County Council and Iarnród Éireann solutions were found. They did not just walk away as we are doing today. It took almost ten years to find solutions, but they were found and the council made it happen. The citizens who reside in the area are very grateful; the landowners who were engaged with are happy, while the many thousands of tourists who come from all over Ireland and beyond are also very happy. I encourage continued engagement in that respect and a positive perspective. Does Iarnród Éireann have a formal protocol in dealing with greenways, learned from other experiences, that it can adopt and adapt for use in other areas?

I am sorry for going on a little, but it was important to outline many of my views and there was an opportunity to do so this morning. We all have a responsibility to deal with flooding. Politicians are often left to carry the baby when the crises happen. We look to the State agencies for help. We do not expect them to look the other way just because it is not their direct responsibility. We expect them to come to the table to find solutions and work with all stakeholders in finding them.