Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I think we can all agree that a comprehensive and good piece of work was done this morning by the committee. We have a good bit to work on following that. I thank all those involved for their participation.

I propose that the petitions considered by the committee at this and previous meetings be published and that the replies from the Departments and other bodies may also be published. Is that agreed? Agreed.

We have three petitions to consider. No. P00004/25, “Save Castletowns Lime Avenue”, is from the Save Castletown Gate Protectors. Do members have any views on this petition?

It seeks to keep the protected pedestrian structure named Lime Avenue at Castletown House pedestrian. It also seeks to restore M4 access to Castletown House using whatever legislation might be required. The secretariat wrote to Office of Public Works, OPW, on 6 June 2025 seeking a response and one has been received. I propose that we publish the response and that we forward the correspondence from the OPW to the petitioner for comment within 14 days. The commentary from the petitioner might inform how we proceed. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 00012/25, "Justice for those Abused in the Homes run by the State", was submitted by Mr. Corwyn Bertrand-Fuchs. This petitioner has asked for a public apology and for recognition and proper redress for all of those who were abused. There has been correspondence between the Department and the petitioner through this committee. The matter was brought before the committee of the Thirty-third Dáil along with the previous recommendation. However, there was no quorum at the relevant meeting, which, incidentally, was the last before the dissolution of the previous Dáil, so the matter was not properly considered. There was correspondence from the then Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. We should forward that to the petitioner for comment within 14 days. Any comment from the petitioner will guide our next steps. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 00016/25 is "A Call for Urgent Action on Flood Relief for Rathcormac, Castlemartyr, Killeagh and Mogeely". The petitioners are the Gleann Fia Residents' Association, Rathcormac Flood Protection, Castlemartyr Flood Protection and Killeagh Flood Protection. The petition relates to flooding and what is described as a flooding crisis for the communities involved. The petition notes that the families in the affected areas feel abandoned and are under incredible stress. It also notes that many families have been torn apart and that others are hanging on by a thread. The petition specifically refers to red tape. Do members have any views?

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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This is in my area of east Cork. It relates in part to Storm Babet. We have been meeting the families on a regular basis. Basically, they have been promised proper floodgates. I have raised this as a Topical Issue. If there are five feet of water, you do not provide a protective device that is two and a half feet high. The latter looks more like a car jack in a wetsuit, with aluminium clips, things with slots, etc. I can understand their frustration. There is a place in Mogeely where there are timber-framed houses. Flood-prevention gates cannot be placed on the doorframes there. There are 56 entry points to those houses, for example, for Eir and so on. The residents feel very frustrated. They want to come at some stage, if possible, Chair, and add to where we were when Storm Babet happened and to what has been done since. There has been positive stuff, but it has got to the stage where things are not moving fast enough. People are getting worried about whether they are going to lose their livelihoods and homes. I am glad we are bringing the matter back before the committee. Once we get a response back I would love to see them in for an update. I will not delay any more than that.

Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)
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The good news for the residents is that the person with responsibility for the OPW is the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran. In fairness to the Minister of State, he has been very hands on in the past with flood relief, certainly in his area and in others. We all saw what happened in Texas and the devastation that flooding brings in respect of lives and homes. There are certain mechanisms out there. As Deputy Buckley said, if four or five feet of floodwater is predicted, then a barrier at least five feet in height is going to be needed. There are ways and means as regards flooding. We have seen how England copes with flood relief, banks and drainage. If money made available in respect of the area in question has been held up by either the local authority or the OPW, somebody has to be held accountable for it.

I would like to find out exactly where that funding is for the residents and see if the matter can be moved on from there. Information is key. It has to be moved on. I do not believe the problem will be with the OPW. In truth, I would say it is somewhere else.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I support Deputy Buckley and Senator Brady. We should bear in mind local knowledge regarding flooding events. It takes so long to complete these projects. It can be unbelievably long. Catchment flood risk assessment and management studies have been done. It is understandable that dealing with drainage and flooding issues is not very straightforward, but we should always have regard to the views, knowledge and experience of local people. When funding is granted and projects are approved in principle, there should be some type of timeframe within which the work should be carried out.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I wholeheartedly agree the Deputy. I thank him for his words in acknowledging the importance of local knowledge. Sometimes that is key. To be fair, there is a new Minister in place. In the previous Dáil, the secretariat corresponded with Cork County Council and the OPW. The previous committee requested that appropriate solutions be put in place. We will definitely include this petition in our consideration for a hearing. It references very well the point about local knowledge. Is it agreed to link this petition to the materials and decisions relating to the petition that was submitted to the Thirty-third Dáil, namely No. P00035/24? Agreed.

That concludes our consideration of public petitions for this afternoon. I genuinely invite members of the public to please submit petitions via our online portal, which is available at submitapetition@oireachtas.ie. A petition may be addressed to the Houses of the Oireachtas on a matter of general public concern or interest, or an issue of public policy. I call Deputy Ahearn.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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It is Hearne.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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My apologies.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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That is all right. The Cathaoirleach is one of many who think I am related to Bertie. The issue of leaflets was raised. Is there anything we could use for social media that would advertise the work of the committee?

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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There is a leaflet. A small bit of updating is being done on that. I will link in with the clerk when we are back and ask her to circulate. Only a small bit of updating needed to be done. It is on the website but I will double-check that. Members can also requested the publication of a leaflet with their information on it to distribute to people in their constituencies. I have some of the older ones, and I have sent them out to people. There is an interest among people in being able to come here. It is a very accessible forum for members of the public that should be utilised a little more. Perhaps we can all commit to work to publicise that. I will correspond with the secretariat and get those leaflets sent around. I understand the leaflet is on the website, but I will just double-check to be on the safe side.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I apologise again for getting the Deputy's name wrong. All of our business has been concluded for this afternoon. The committee is now adjourned until after the summer recess, when we will meet in private and public session.