Mr. Paul Kavanagh:

A simple boom, which is a large sausage half-filled with water, across the two sides of the bridge would solve the immediate problem. It could be installed professionally for €50,000 and could be used by Cork County Council's appointed contractors for the next number of years while they are carrying out repairs. It was, however, ruled out of order when we proposed it last year and we were not afforded any meeting with the engineers of Cork County Council until as late as last Wednesday evening, when we were offered one. I would suggest that was on foot of this petition. We were told to be in Cork at 2.30 p.m. if we wanted a hearing but we could not attend because a number of people were out of the country and I was in Dublin. After two years, the offer was too late. The boom is the immediate answer for the people of Fermoy. It will save the regatta and the fish will be able to migrate under it perfectly.

We are in favour of repairing the weir. I have all the reports from O'Connor and Sons, who are the experts Cork County Council appointed in 2002, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The last repair job was going to cost €715,000 but, 12 months later, the figure is €1.5 million. The architect and design stages have gone out to tender but only one response came back, which was from O'Connor and was rejected because there was only one. Maybe the price was too high, or even too low, but we were not told. It has gone out for re-tendering and that is due back in two weeks' time, when we will have a better picture of the figures. According to our councillors, the CEO of Cork County Council, Mr. Lucey, has said that when we have the figures, the council will pay half the amount.