Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We are hoping to have representatives of Waterways Ireland appear before the Dáil committee. We have written to the organisation and I am anxious that its representatives attend a committee meeting shortly to discuss the issues being dealt with by the body.

There was a problem between the staff and Waterways Ireland which went to the High Court. Has that case been settled or is it still going through the courts? What is the position? Waterways Ireland has a budget of approximately €34 million, which is not a small amount of money. Last year, it spent €2.3 million on overtime and allowances, which is more than was spent on overtime and allowances in the Minister's Department.

Given the serious problems with flooding this year, what are Waterways Ireland's priorities for dealing with some of the problems that arose? Farmers in the midlands are concerned that Waterways Ireland is not doing enough to alleviate flooding. There was a very serious problem last year, so what will the body do this year to deal with the problems? What part of the budget will be spent on that? What will the Minister do about the €2.3 million spent on overtime and allowances? It is a great deal of money to spend on overtime and allowances in the current climate.

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