Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the group for its presentation and I have a number of questions. Mr. Verbruggen said he was going to do analysis. Has the analysis started? Is it nearly done? How long will it take? Is there agreement on the scope of work RPS is doing? Is it just to deal with the railway or with flooding as a wider issue? I know he is using the framework that has been done. At the end of the day, it is good to see a joint statement from the group and that a number of the group may be starting work together. In the context of whether there will be a requirement for planning, when will RPS be finished? In fairness to the OPW and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, have been pro-active in trying to solve problems. Will the cost-benefit analysis that bogs down so many schemes be a problem? What I am trying to get to the nub of the issue here, and Mr. Meade said he is taking responsibility. If it means raising the line, will that be done with Iarnród Éireann's funds or where will this funding be coming from? We are six months on and it is good to see the group members talking to each other but diggers on the railway line or on the ground are needed to get work done. When will work start to the job done? RPS, with which I have worked on bogs around the country, is only getting guidance now and it is a slow procedure. Are we going to be here this time next year wondering about this with the line flooded? I want to see dates, times and whether the money is going to be brought forward, regardless of who has to cough up with the plan.

Geological Survey of Ireland, GSI, has done monitoring in different places, but some of this monitoring goes on for two to three years. Does GSI have the data it needs now or is it starting to put it together now? Perhaps I picked Mr. Verbruggen up wrong.