Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that good work has started in some areas. However, many of the rivers and waterways for which the OPW claims it is not responsible are not being addressed. There should be one body responsible for ensuring that water can flow as freely as possible in all of the rivers. Every river in the country is blocked by both trees and silt. No farmer or land owner has been able to touch any river for the last 20 years because of cross compliance and the possibility of losing the single farm payment. The Flesk river runs through the Flesk valley and 22 houses and a community hall are constantly being flooded. The N22, the national primary route into Kerry has been flooded several times. The national CFRAM programme carried out studies for five years but has now withdrawn from the Flesk river and will do nothing to help. Kerry County Council says it is not its' responsibility. The National Roads Authority is carrying out a study but I cannot see that going anywhere. The college and the community hall in Castleisland have flooded several times. There are similar problems in Kenmare, while the Lake Hotel in Killarney has flooded three times because the Laune river coming out of the lake is blocked up and needs to be cleaned. Perhaps a grant could be given to farmers to assist them in clearing rivers on their own land. That is an option that could be explored. At the moment, farmers are afraid to go near the rivers in case they lose their single farm payment.

In England the authorities have ordered that every river in the country be cleaned as well as any other waterway that is causing trouble. Why can we not do the same here? Inland Fisheries Ireland has held people back. Indeed, it has called gardái and threatened farmers, telling them to get out of the rivers. That is not fair, particularly as rivers that are overshadowed by trees are no use for fishing.

We must have one body in charge. I support the motion and ask that one body be put in place to oversee all of this. Otherwise, many places will be left behind. Every river in Kerry is blocked, including the Gweestin and the rivers coming out of places like Castleisland and Killarney. We are at a standstill. We need money in Kerry. There was an announcement of money for Cork but we need fair play in Kerry too.

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