David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I remind him it has been six months since this happened and that it has happened twice before, although not to the same extent because Storm Babet was exceptionally awful. The work that needs to be done at Castlemartyr and especially Mogeely is not huge. I do not think money is an issue, but I am told the schemes were not in tranche 1. Will the Minister of State move them to tranche 1?

There was also talk of diverting the Kiltha River in Castlemartyr, which would solve the problem for good. What is the position in that regard and who is responsible for that? The frustration is that it takes so long to get anything done. I appreciate the scheme in Midleton is enormous and extraordinarily complicated and that it has gone back to be reviewed as a result of Storm Babet to ensure the works done will be impactful. People are concerned and businesses are worried. I have raised this issue in some shape or form virtually every week since October, as have my colleagues. There are three of us from the constituency in the Chamber and we have all been working hard on it, as has Deputy Tóibín. I ask the Minister of State to put some energy into this to really drive it on and ensure the council and the OPW work together to get work done on the ground. We have enough reports.

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