Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the points raised by Deputy McNamara. Farmers are suffering due to the beef prices. Hopefully, the Department will put in place a scheme that can assist them in ascertaining what the market demands.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting my topic and the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, for coming to the House despite a very busy schedule. I wish him well in the election. I sincerely hope he is elected and that Europe's gain is this House's loss.

The flood relief scheme in Arklow is the topic under debate. It is more than ten years since I sat with Oireachtas Members and members of Arklow Town Council following the floods in the early part of the last decade. The then Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Mr. Martin Cullen, committed that if a scheme could be devised which could prevent flooding in the future, the funding would be provided for it. We struggled on for a long number of years under the illusion that something was being done. Several reports were done on the issue but nothing happened.

Following the change in Government in 2011 and inquiring from the Minister's office as to what the situation was, I was dismayed to find that the file was lying in a cupboard and very little had been done. I acknowledge the work the Minister has done over the past couple of years in providing funding to consultants to devise a scheme for Arklow which would prevent flooding, in particular in the lower part of the town, the Ferrybank area and the Sea Road where the Avoca River meets the Irish Sea. Much preparatory work has been carried out and my understanding is that all reports are complete.

In 2012, €42,000 was granted by the Department to build a flood protection wall along the edge of the Avoca River in the town and a small amount of money - €5,000 to €6,000 - was given to clear out the river. Is the funding available for the scheme? When will it be provided? When can the council start to put the process in place? This is very important. The people of Arklow have waited several political generations, or 30 years to 40 years, for this funding. Will the Minister of State outline when that funding will be provided?

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