Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an bhfreagra sin. I thank the Minister of State for that answer but it will be cold comfort to residents of West Street in Tallow who are grappling with the fact that no structural works are proposed by the OPW to the Glenaboy and the Bride rivers. We are all aware that the ferocity and frequency of these winter storms and severe weather events are increasing. People on West Street have begun to put their lives, businesses and homes back together after that flooding event in late 2023. While they welcome that dredging will take place after a very long period of engagement with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland, the OPW and Waterford City and County Council, there is much to do. Some structural works need to take place to increase capacity in that catchment area so flooding does not occur again.

Another point of note is that Tallow did not receive any visits from the Minister of State's predecessor. People are sore about that because businesses and property in the area suffered huge damage. I ask the Minister of State to consider visiting Tallow, meeting the residents of West Street and letting that feed into his future responses.

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