Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important topic. We do so in a spirit of being constructive in ensuring this important topic is kept on the floor of the Dáil. We can thank the man above that we are where we are and that October and November have been unprecedented historically dry months. If a fraction of the rain that fell last year had fallen during these months this year, Deputy Rabbitte might not be looking over at her constituency colleague here because I have no doubt but that he would be in Athlone with his waders. We are where we are because of the good grace of the man above.

Unfortunately, in spite of many announcements, there has been very little physical work on the ground. A public meeting was called recently in Athlone by the local authority, and there was a sense of frustration among the people leaving the meeting. I will be the first to acknowledge that there have been positive announcements regarding flood relief. I am aware of the role my colleague has played in ensuring there have been positive announcements. I have no doubt but that when he decided to support the Government, one of his top priorities was to ensure that money would be forthcoming in this area. However, there is a sense of frustration over the lack of physical work on the ground. We must acknowledge this. I compliment groups such as the Mid Shannon Flood Relief Group, which has been so proactive in working together as a community and bringing forward proposals as to what can be done to alleviate people's fears.

Last week, the Minister of State announced that dredging would be considered a possibility for the River Shannon. Deputy Barry Cowen was part of a cross-party delegation that went to Europe earlier this summer. At that stage they were informed that the European Commission was not prohibiting the dredging of the River Shannon. I went with two colleagues from Banagher to Shannon and back up to Meelick in a boat. In certain areas along the River Shannon its width and depth have been halved because of overgrowth. There was a radar at the bottom of the boat, and one could see in some areas how low the river was and in other areas how high it was. I am slightly worried by the words used in the Minister of State's press release. I hope he will be able to alleviate these concerns when he rises to address the Chamber. He stated he will explore the possibility of dredging the River Shannon and, if needs be, go to the EU courts to seek permission to do so. I would have expected that one of the first things he would have done on assuming office was to explore this possibility. I would have expected, given that he has been in office since May, that he would be able to tell us whether it is possible. I hope it is. When will the works commence? Will we see a protracted period of negotiation and lobbying with the EU before the works can commence? Perhaps he can alleviate my fears and say that he has negotiated, that he has a start date, that the contract is going out to tender and that he knows when the works will commence, how much will be allocated for them and when he anticipates they will be completed.

My colleague, Deputy Eugene Murphy, will introduce a Bill this week in the Dáil as part of our suite of flood relief proposals. This will ensure that legislative changes will be introduced so that the ESB will no longer be able to use the 1934 Act to argue that it is inhibited from lowering water levels. Perhaps the Minister of State will give an indication as to whether he would be willing to accept this legislation.

I believe it is necessary. I learned a funny thing from my constituency colleague, who was at the meeting. Representatives from the ESB met us in room in LH 2000. One of the questions I asked was whether they would do anything different with the benefit of hindsight. I was flabbergasted and amazed to learn that they would not. They took the view that they acted in the best interests of the people who live along the River Shannon. Anyone who is living, engaging or working with them knows that is simply inaccurate. The Bill my colleague is bringing forward is critical in terms of fixing this jigsaw.

Two other pledges were made. The first was the pilot home protection provision scheme. When will that be rolled out? When will people who went to the expense of protecting their own homes be able to avail of a grant to compensate them for the work they have done? When will the national flooding, forecasting and warning system be put in place? That is critical to allow the necessary work to be done in order that we will know when flooding is coming down the tracks.

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