Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment my party colleague, Deputy Eugene Murphy, on moving the motion which is of great importance, particularly to those in rural areas that have experienced constant flooding in recent years. I wish to mention areas in Cavan. Although the River Shannon rises in County Cavan, it does not cause us flooding problems, but the River Erne does. Its source is in County Cavan, but it travels north to County Donegal. There are considerable flooding problems caused by the River Erne in areas quite close to Cavan town, as well as Blenacup, Crossdoney, Drumullen, Farnham, Bruskey, Loughduff and Killykeen. It is a considerable and constant problem.

The Minister of State will recall that I have constantly been asking parliamentary questions about the need for the Department and relevant authorities to collaborate constantly with the Northern Ireland authorities. It is only by working with the Northern river agencies that we will be able to address the issues and the core problem causing flooding from the River Erne in areas such as County Cavan. I have been highlighting, in particular, the need to ensure the Department's officials and the agencies that work on its behalf work constantly in unison with the authorities in Northern Ireland to ensure the appropriate drainage and remedial works are carried out to alleviate the serious flooding problems caused, in part, by the restrictions to water flow through the River Erne at the channel between Upper Lough Erne and Lower Lough Erne and the channel between the lower lough and the cliff dam near Belleek. That is an issue that needs to be addressed. It will not be addressed tomorrow or the next day, but it is one that has to be put on the agenda.

I need to see more remedial work being done. Small, minor schemes carried out in County Cavan would help to alleviate the problem, but they do not represent the full answer we need. The dredging and opening of the channel between Upper Lough Erne and Lower Lough Erne is essential. I hope that, at sectoral level at the North-South Ministerial Council, this issue can be put clearly on the agenda. My neighbours in County Fermanagh suffer seriously from flooding also. An application will be submitted to the Minister of State's Department to have specific works carried out in the Drumullen area near Cavan town. The council is working with the local residents who are very anxious that the application be processed, finalised and approved early in the new year. I appeal to the Minister of State to support that project as it is essential.

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