Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It must be remembered that submissions were made before this project went ahead. It was noted that there may be a risk of flood at T15, which is one of the places on the site. The reality is that people have been flooded in their houses, Coillte is ducking and diving at present and people do not know whether to draw down insurance. The point is that were they to draw down their insurance, they would not get insurance again. This is what is going on in the area and I will stand up and be counted because I went up that mountain the other day. I am from a construction background and will state clearly that if one takes out 40 ha or 50 ha of trees, if one puts in place 25 m roads and if one brings some of these roads to areas such as those that were earmarked in submissions as being in danger of flooding, one increases the risk.

It was put into the plan that up to 85 mm of rain needed to be accounted for in areas. We did not have that. That is guaranteed. However, it was not contained on the site and that is the bottom line. There is now silt down the drains. There is a council road completely busted out of it. Someone has to account for it. We need the council to carry out enforcement on this because what has gone on is intolerable.

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