James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not casting judgment on the Minister of State. I am casting judgment on the two-year delay on the scheme going on public display. I am quite happy that it is going to happen. I praise the county council staff and the emergency services who have done tremendous work during the crisis when Ireland experienced severe snow. They had barely got back to their beds before they had to get up again to deal with potential flooding of the town by the river, which was within millimetres of bursting its banks. Thankfully it did not, but it needs to progress as quickly as possible. I thank the Acting Chair, Deputy Eugene Murphy, who has also brought this matter up. This has been let slip for two years and it cannot be allowed to slip any further. Enniscorthy is very vulnerable to flooding. It has caused regular crises for local businesses and homes as a result. It causes a huge amount of distress and damage to the economy of the town. We need to see the scheme progressed quickly. I have heard comments about it being prioritised. I fail to see how anything is being prioritised when it is already two years behind schedule.

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