Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree. As usual, Deputy Fitzmaurice talks a considerable amount of sense. There is an issue with regard to good samaritan legislation and allowing people to do certain work when they are genuinely trying to do the right thing. It should give them a little protection. That is in place and it is designed to help people to do as outlined. There is always a fear, especially when it comes to water and flooding, that if we alleviate it in one place, it can cause a problem somewhere else. That is the danger when it comes to a quick-fix or short-term solution.

I know Deputy Fitzmaurice appreciates that we need to get the long-term planning right. We have seen many cases in the United Kingdom where money was spent and wasted and where what was attempted did not work. There are two issues. The first is what we can do in the short term to alleviate some of the problems. The second is what we can do in the long term to prevent them from happening in the first instance.

The most important question is the allocation of money. There is a ring-fenced fund of €430 million. I accept this does not help anyone who is suffering today. We know that we will need approximately €1 billion in total in the coming seven, eight or ten years to solve this problem for most people, in other words, to alleviate the danger of flooding. A total of €430 million is set aside for the coming four years. That is being spent in a co-ordinated way. The Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, has taken a co-ordinating role across all Government agencies. That money will be spent properly. The plans are well worked out and there are no knock-on effects for the next person. However, we also need increase what we can do to prevent short-term flooding in the coming years.

I agree with another point made by Deputy Fitzmaurice. I agree that a review of existing schemes such as GLAS could be useful. We are spending the money already. We should see whether these schemes can be adapted to allow for a little more common sense, for example, when it comes to danger on the roads or where trees are falling into rivers and ditches and so on. All we need is a little co-ordination and common sense. I will certainly raise that issue directly. The issue of trees on roads is something I get involved in personally because it makes total sense. We know of many cases where trees are rotten because of ivy and so on. We know they need to come out. Again, if someone needs permission they should not be in danger for not obeying the law by cutting down trees. What we do not want is for this to be abused and for trees to be cut left, right and centre to allow for greater use of land. It should only happen along roads. We should be clear on that. Certainly, we will work on that as well.

A number of schemes are in place. We are paying out money. Some of the money is European and some of it is our own. Perhaps we can see whether these can be adapted to facilitate or solve two problems with one budget. That is what Deputy Fitzmaurice is trying to say. It is something in which I will take a personal interest. I will try to work on that as well.

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