Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I know a small bit about civil engineering work, and it will be a miracle. The photo I sent was taken this morning. If all the infrastructure will be in place by 3 June, with Monday a bank holiday, I would be amazed. I hope the Tánaiste is right and that what Eir told the Government is correct but I do not think it will come true. I ask the Government to keep the pressure on. For a lot of the people waiting on these phone lines, it is their only contact with the outside world and the panic button is of huge importance to them.

On the fires that broke out in the area, I ask the Government again about the reconstitution grant. Those people need help. In fairness to the Minister and Minister of State, they met forestry people and went out to sites where there was wind-blown timber. This is a different scenario, though. If they are available, I ask them to come down and look at it. In my opinion, it was probably recklessness by someone passing a road that set a fire going.

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