Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a few quick-fire questions. I will not get into statements because I am conscious of the time constraints and it is vitally important that we have this interaction. I will accept my questions being answered with other questions. What commitment is Bord na Móna giving to do hydrological assessments in the areas it is proposing to wet in conjunction with neighbouring farmers? What commitments is it giving to maintain the drainage for neighbouring farmers in order that it will not cause them flooding? What commitments is it giving for maintenance going forward, once the bogs are re-wetted? How does it propose to control water levels in bogs? I am from County Westmeath and I am familiar with bogland that is mairning farmland. Once a project is complete and the water is at a certain level within a bog and we get prolonged torrential rain, how does Bord na Móna propose to control the level of the area it intends to flood so it will not end up flooding the entire surrounding areas? We have received much feedback from the stakeholders we have met and I have heard a lot commercially about the lack of engagement and communication Bord na Móna is having with communities. The neighbouring farmers aside, there is the potential here for flooding which would change the biodiversity and the layout and maybe even create safety concerns for parents in broader areas. Bord na Móna does not seem to have had much communication with the broader communities. I ask the witnesses to comment on that.