Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The Minister and the members of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are aware that too many agencies are involved in co-ordinating issues relating to flood defence and flooding matters. I refer specifically to the River Shannon. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Finneran, will agree that it is difficult to get someone to take responsibility for co-ordinating the necessary measures to deal effectively with problems that have continued for a long time. Does the Minister accept there is a need, in the context of the recent floods in November 2009 and subsequent matters relating to weather, for a lead agency to co-ordinate in the most appropriate way to deal with matters relating to flooding in the River Shannon catchment area?

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