Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again thank Deputy Buckley for raising this very important matter on behalf of his community. I outline that the steering group is due to meet again in the next week or so and local elected representatives will be part of that. I assure the Deputy that the funding is in place for the relief scheme. It will be taken from the €1.3 billion that is available for flood risk management measures right throughout the country. It is important that funding is in place, that a very significant amount of data and evidence has been gathered already on the path flows and the pressures of flooding in the area, and if any alternative work can be done or carried out in the meantime to give additional protection, the OPW will certainly take account of that. It is important to keep in contact with all local representatives in the process.

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