Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an rún seo anocht. Gabhaim buíochas le Sinn Féin as é a chur os ár gcomhair. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach agus ba mhaith liom fuascailt a fháil ón bhfadhb seo.

I am very happy to speak on this Bill. This issue has generated significant concern in the midlands and throughout rural Ireland. I am one of the frustrated Deputies referred to by Deputy Canney. In July and the summer months we had issues along the Shannon and farmers' lands were flooded. A lot of farmers were affected. Livestock had to be moved. There was huge confusion around the sluice gates at Meelick. I remember contacting the Minister of State's office and the OPW. This is a recurring issue. I remember raising it when I was a county councillor in 2014. It has gone on for too long. I hope that tonight's discussion will not be another meaningless talking shop. We need concrete actions. People are becoming very frustrated and angry over the whole issue. I sincerely hope we can all be constructive and work together to formulate solutions to this ongoing issue which people really want resolved.

As we know, flooding has far-reaching and devastating impacts such as emotional stress, the loss of individual homes and the loss of farmland or businesses. Severe health issues are associated with flooding, as well as dramatic declines in economic competitiveness in impacted communities and regions. I accept that the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, is sincere when he speaks about his desire to address these matters, but as always the real issue is the lack of tangible outcomes.

Time and again, my colleagues have called on the Department and the OPW to immediately escalate their response to ongoing flooding issues affecting farmers and residents, particularly in west Offaly where approximately 200 farmers are affected by flooding caused by the River Shannon. In the village of Riverstown, which straddles the Tipperary-Offaly border, there is an issue with the River Brosna. The Government needs to get to grips with these issues. I am highlighting them again tonight in the hope that solutions can be put in place.

Unfortunately, the response to this issue from the Government side has been lethargic at best. I hope that will change. I am constantly in contact with several farmers from west Offaly who are profoundly alarmed by the apparent lack of action. Many of them have grazing land that can only be used for two months of the year, as a result of which they are at risk of fodder shortages. The stress and hardship they must endure is unbelievable. I am calling for that hardship to end.

I have always maintained that this matter demands a whole-of-government approach because of the nature of the damage to farms and the significant threat to the provision of fodder as a result of flooding. Unfortunately, as I have stated previously, for a significant number of farmers in Offaly and right across the midlands, the rain and flooding are becoming as predictable as the Government's lack of response. I sincerely hope that will change. I will be the first person to welcome any such change.

Members are aware that the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme has been meeting for the best part of a decade to develop strategies for the reduction of risk. I have become very cynical about all of the reports that have been produced without any action being taken. A small number of actions from the reports should be agreed and then carried through. There is a terrible problem here; it just seems to be reports all the time. I remember discussing such reports while I was a member of Offaly County Council. A significant amount of time was wasted talking about them but very little was done. I would like to see an end to reports and a start to more focused actions.

The Bill calls for a single agency to be set up. I believe that is urgently needed. There is significant confusion. I remember being contacted by farmers in July and having to run from the OPW to the ESB and on to the office of the Minister. The current set-up is a disaster. We need to have one management authority to effectively manage the River Shannon. That would be a pragmatic response to a difficult and complex issue. Despite the fact that there has been much highlighting of this issue, a priority question I tabled was ruled inadmissible by the Department of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The Green Party is full of aspiration but it does not seem to care about communities in rural Ireland that are being flooded. The question I submitted specifically dealt with issues related to Waterways Ireland, which falls under the remit of that Department, yet the question was rejected. That is not the kind of engagement that I or any other rural Deputy deserves or wishes to see going forward.

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