Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If that is okay with other members, I appreciate it. I can come back in 6.15 p.m. as well. I thank Councillor Fallon, Ms Murray and Mr. Kearney. This group has been active over the past number of years and it has just been highly traumatic. A public meeting was held earlier this year and hundreds attended. It showed the impact on communities all across Rahara, Ballagh and Lisfelim. Many communities are under threat with this and families have just been pulled apart, as Mr. Kearney also noted.

Many public representatives were at that public meeting, at which we listened. Action is what the committee here wants to see. It was good that we were able to hold a meeting last July with the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donovan. There is a further progress update the Minister of State has committed to on 10 November. I look forward to being able to hear the updates with our other public representatives here and the witnesses.

From my understanding, there is engagement between OPW officials and Roscommon County Council on the ground regarding the current activities there. The community at large is obviously seeing the rising water levels at the moment. Can Councillor Fallon give any detail on the rising water levels at present, perhaps over the past week or so?

Mr. Kearney is a farmer and this is the agriculture committee. The destruction of land and the destruction and loss of farming supports has been absolutely devastating. What would farmers in his area say if they were here and if Mr. Kearney was their representative?