Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join Deputy Cannon in supporting what the Minister of State said about the Dunkellin river and Kiltiernan. The Minister of State said that a decision on the Dunkellin river is expected from An Bord Pleanála before the end of the year. That is certainly welcome because it is one of the long-standing issues that affects south and east Galway.

I repeat what has been said about small funding for cleaning and dredging rivers. As a member of the River Suck drainage scheme, I have positive personal experience where Galway and Roscommon representatives worked together to get work done. The issue of removing dirt, silt and rushes from rivers was important. We need to get those small rivers clean. There was also the important issue of plastic bags preventing water flowing away through swallow holes or trying to get to the sea in south Galway. Finally, when one looks at forestry programmes, they also need to be compatible with drainage in the particular area where it is happening.

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