Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to see the Minister here this evening because the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, who is leaving the Chamber, the Minister and I have discussed this on a number of occasions. I very much hope that tonight we can finally get confirmation of the promise the Minister made when he visited Drumkeeran last November. He met farmers, stakeholders, landowners and local politicians etc. The promise was that the Minister would deliver some type of compensation package. I hope that tonight, we will be told that compensation package is in place and that it will be delivered immediately.

The Minister and I know this has gone on far too long. The landslide at Shass Mountain happened almost 27 months ago, in June 2020. While I recognise and appreciate, as do the landowners, the fact that the Minister ensured that Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, payments were paid in the intervening period, which was important, they are nonetheless waiting far too long for the package of compensation.

We are speaking about more than 20 farmers and approximately eight foresters who were adversely affected by the damage from this landslide. Their patience has been sorely tested. When I raised the matter last June in the Dáil, which was the last time I raised it here, I made the point that maybe if they had marched, blocked roads and caused disruption, it might have been resolved sooner. However, they took the Minister at his word and so did I. I hope his word will be honoured here this evening.

I will not take up my four minutes. I have rehearsed these arguments too many times but I will put on record again the fact that Leitrim County Council did much good work. It pulled out all the stops and mitigated as much of the damage as it could. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, who has just left, through his chairing of a multiagency group, kept farmers, landowners, Departments and local and national politicians in the loop. Good work has been done but there is still a huge piece missing in the middle of that jigsaw. I sincerely hope that piece is in the Minister's hand.

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