Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that. It is good news to hear it is a week away but I want to make sure it is just a week away. The weather we had today causes much fear among the people whose homes were flooded three years ago. In a week's time, or at most in two week's time, I want to see this resolved. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, visited a number of these people a year ago and much work has been carried out on flood alleviation works around the county. However, for these families, for the likes of Anne Connolly in Gort, the Flatleys in Ardrahan and the Devaneys in Skehana, it is unacceptable that it has taken us three years to get to this point. I would like the message to go back to the Minister and the Department that whatever legal issues need to be sorted out are sorted out in the next seven to 14 days because it is not fair to ask these people to go through another Christmas not being able to plan for their future.

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