Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to see the Minister in the House to discuss the annual adaptation transition statement and the policy measures adopted by the OPW.

There have been issues over the years. In 2009 one of the most difficult times I recall as a politician was when we had flooding of the River Shannon. I remember going to businesses and houses and standing up in water. As a politician I felt helpless. At the time no one seemed to be in charge of the River Shannon. It was supposed to be the ESB but most of the local authorities and the OPW looked the other way.

I am glad that in the past ten years we have come a long way in trying to address this serious problem. We had climate change and lack of management. I wish to compliment Leitrim County Council, Roscommon County Council and all the workers along with the OPW and the ESB for coming up with better management of a situation that had been embarrassing. In 2015 we had flooding in Leitrim villages, Carrick-on-Shannon, Roosky and many other places. The local authorities have done much work on this.

There is considerable onus on local initiatives. Over the years I have met with various local people who have had an interest in, and knowledge of, the river. The River Shannon is a complex system. The people in Roosky blamed the people in Dromad for letting the water go. The people in Dromad blamed the people in Carrick-on-Shannon for letting the water go. The people in Carrick-on-Shannon asked for the water to be held in Lough Allen. I am glad that we have a management system in place working with all the various people.

I have met the two or three Ministers responsible for the OPW when we were in government from 2011 to 2019. Brian Kenny, Liam Farrell and John Dunne are from Carrick-on-Shannon. They have come up with constructive solutions. Under the catchment flood risk assessment and management programme, funding was provided to the local authorities in counties Leitrim and Roscommon to take out trees around Jamestown south of Carrick-on-Shannon. I have no doubt this helped to alleviate the flooding in Carrick-on-Shannon. It was really bad at the Cortober end, where there is a huge shopping complex. I have no doubt that helped. We took into consideration that funding became available. The local authority did much work on the Cootehall Road. We met the Cleaheen and Cootehall residents. The two local authorities did a good deal of work in raising the road. It all helped.

We have to deal with the major issue of climate change. We have been able to manage the rivers so far, but it is like putting a finger in the dyke trying to determine the best solution. Unless we can manage the Shannon better, we will be in a difficult situation.

There is an issue regarding turloughs. In my town of Boyle in Roscommon we have Ann and Vincent Brady. They have an issue regarding turloughs. They are still not satisfied. The Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin Boxer Moran, has done great work but this is an outstanding area. I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to look at exploring whether we can get funding to address this problem with the turloughs. I looked at the River Shannon and it seemed to be fine. Then, the next thing was that we saw a turlough - it was like a lake. It is an outstanding issue. I know much good work has been done but this is outstanding and it needs to be addressed.

I welcome the €5 million that was approved for local authorities for 50 local flood relief schemes. That certainly helped. It brings the committed investment to €39 million for over 800 local authority flood relief projects throughout the country.

We are talking about CFRAM and people who are for and against the CFRAM programme. In Carrick-on-Shannon it was proposed to have a glass wall of 1.5 m.

Ironically, I did not realise the Minister was due to speak in the House today. Last Monday, I had the local engineer out where the Shannon comes up to a house in Cortober. We are trying to get a bank built. I wish to thank the local engineer, Michael Conlon, and all the staff there for the work they have done. At the toughest of times we have seen the best of the businesses, residents and local authority staff. I could not thank them highly enough. They were out at all times. It is great to see that at the toughest of times local authority members are out working trying to resolve the problems.

Deputy MacSharry rightly raised the Garda station. I understand this is about climate change but the situation needs to be addressed. Last December a parliamentary questions was answered by the Minister for Justice and Equality to the effect that a new Garda station was definitely going ahead in Sligo. The Garda Commissioner has seemingly vetoed that political decision, which is unusual. The rank and file gardaí in Sligo Garda station are disillusioned because promises were made by Garda management and there were political decisions. They feel seriously let down. They believe it is unusual that the Garda Commissioner would veto a decision by the Minister for Justice and Equality. I would like to get answers to that because I tabled a parliamentary question two weeks ago, when the Garda station was going ahead. The first I heard of this was when the parliamentary question stated that the stations in Clonmel and Macroom were going ahead while Sligo was not.

Rank and file gardaí in Sligo deserve better. As the Minister knows from launching the 2040 development plan, it is a regional town. The people of the north west deserve better.

A value for money report needs to be done. If a site is bought for €1.4 million in order to locate a new state-of-the-art Garda station for the brave men and women of An Garda Síochána at a time when the Garda is also spending millions of euro on a barracks that neither I nor the Garda believes is fit for purpose, there must be a value for money report. Whoever is in government, I will fight to ensure we get that new station. It was promised.

Before I go any further, I want to get answers to my questions from the Garda Commissioner or the Minister for Justice and Equality. I look forward to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe's reply.

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