Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter. Since I entered public life many years ago one of the main issues taken up by me and by practically all public representatives in my constituency and particularly in Kilkenny is the need to drain the River Nore or to provide solutions to the flooding problems. It would have been foolish for any aspiring candidate for public office not to include such an objective in his or her campaign leaflets. I can remember at the young age of ten the flood that hit Kilkenny in March 1947. At that time my grandparents were isolated in their house with the water rising to a level of 6 ft. or 7 ft. It was a miracle that no lives were lost at that time.

There have been many severe floods in the Nore and its tributary the Breagagh. These occur annually and sometimes many times per year. With the decision to carry out the work on the Nore several years ago came a sense of confidence and pride. The work cost €48 million. I never had a problem with such an amount of money for this very essential work. I would fully support whatever it took to do the job and say it was well worth the money. Naturally I have not been in Kilkenny in recent days as I have been here in the House. When I read this morning's Irish Independent with a screaming headline "Anti-flood scheme failed", I was aghast. It mentioned that parts of the city were flooded. It is important to assure the public that this scheme has been successful and will be successful.

My main purpose for raising this matter on the Adjournment was to give the Minister of State the opportunity to state that in the House. When I read the news this morning I did not know what to think. I hope the Minister of State can give the assurance to allow people to view this scheme with confidence and pride. Excellent work was carried out and I have no problem with the cost. If that was what it took to do the job, every penny was justified.

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