Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Can the witnesses understand the frustration, not just of the people of Midleton, but the people across the country at the grindingly slow pace of delivery for infrastructure, especially when it comes to non-politicians or average, normal or ordinary citizens? A flood risk was deemed so bad in 2017, it was promised that a defence would be built. During the floods, politicians from Dublin landed in Midleton, stood in high water in their wellies and told people that they would be looked after and sorted. Yet, here we are, talking about the end of next year potentially for a request for planning permission to go in. Planning permission has to go through the process, which could have objections or judicial reviews. There could then be difficulties in terms of funding and delivery. We are potentially five or six years away from the people of Midleton having a flood defence protecting them, which is quite incredible. That would mean that it would take probably 12 years since putting in place the flood defence was promised.