Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All of us have raised this issue because we are very much aware of the severe anguish and stress suffered by families in our constituencies over the past 72 hours. In Galway East and, in particular, south Galway, that anguish and distress was exacerbated by the fact that people knew what was coming and the torture they would face. They saw floodwaters and river levels rising in the immediate vicinity of their homes. This happened in 1995, 2009, 2014 and again this year. They knew their houses would be inundated with water. There was nothing they could do and they prepared to leave their houses.

They were particularly distressed by the fact that, in their eyes, they have seen nothing but inaction on this issue over decades. If one searched for the term "Dunkellin drainage" in the Official Report of the House, one would see debates on it going back to the 1930s and 1940s because the issue has been ongoing for so long. I ask for that distress be brought to an end. The Minister of State and his predecessor, Mr. Brian Hayes, MEP, have worked very hard on the current flood relief project. I ask that we confirm once and for all that a budget is in place. I understand there is one and to know its amount would be very helpful.

I also ask that we expedite as quickly as possible the delivery of the Dunkellin flood relief project. I also ask that the Minister of State exert as much influence as he possibly can on An Bord Pleanála to make a planning decision immediately on the Dunkellin flood relief project. The project planning application has been with it since October 2014. I find it very difficult to understand how it has taken more than a year for it to make a decision on this matter. Once the decision is made - one hopes it will be a positive decision - I hope we can expedite this project and bring it to fruition as quickly as possible.

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