Mr. Peter Walsh:

With regard to flood risk, there is a procedure that every project goes through. There is a certain return period for floods that a design has to meet. In recent years, we have seen flooding events that were more significant than in previous years. Floods of the kind believed to occur only ever 500 years seem to have occurred in a number of parts of the country at intervals of less than 500 years. We are anxious that any project brought forward account for records of flooding in the area and address the potential flood risk. I do not have sufficient knowledge of the project in Ardee to state whether there are areas of concern regarding the alignment. If the Deputy likes, we can respond in more detail.