Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I wish to share time with Deputy John O'Mahony. I will be very brief because I have raised this issue before. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I wish him well. I have raised this matter on two occasions in this Dáil. The OPW has funding in place and has submitted a report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. On two occasions in this House it was confirmed to me that a meeting was to take place between the OPW and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. That meeting was to take place a number of weeks ago. Today, I learned from the Department that again that meeting has not taken place.

Tonight I will be nice to the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe, because it is the first night that I have dealt with him.

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I thank Deputy Ring.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I want to assure him, his Department and his officials, as Deputy O'Mahony will confirm, that I was at a very angry meeting in Hollymount a number of weeks ago. The only reason that they held off on coming up and taking over the Minister of State's offices and the offices of the National Parks and Wildlife Service is they are waiting for this meeting to take place between the OPW and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The OPW, in fairness, has drawn up a plan, which I have seen. They are not happy with the second report but they are prepared to go ahead with it. The funding is in place, and we are now waiting for clearance from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

I want the Minister of State to understand this. There is a family in that area whose house has been flooded. The water destroyed their home, and it nearly happened again in November and December last when there were serious floods in this country. People in the cities may not realise, even though they themselves had a bit of flooding. We heard all about the flooding as soon as it occurred in Dublin. We heard about a little drink of water in some of the gardens. However, these people's homes were destroyed. Their lands were destroyed.

I ask the Minister of State to confirm to me tonight that he will direct the National Parks and Wildlife Service tomorrow to have that meeting next week. If he does that, at least we can move the process on. I hope at that meeting, when it takes place, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the OPW, between them, can agree a proper channel to go and we can get these works done. The money is in place and we want the work done.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ring for sharing his time. I acknowledge that he has been working on this for many years. As he stated, I attended that public meeting. What was articulated that night was this process of report after report, and finally, now we have the concern of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. If it was not so serious it would be funny. Attending that meeting, I got the feeling that if it was wildlife that were living in the house that was flooded, there would be something done about it but because it is people, there seems to be obstacles and legislation.

Very simple measures will solve the problem in the Hollymount-Roundfort region. It is at a tipping point. It would take very little. It would not in any way damage the environment or anything else. One can rely on people in rural areas. They have looked after the environment better than most over the years.

I add my support to this matter, and Deputy Ring, to bring it to a conclusion. I would appeal to the Minister of State to do that by having this meeting and letting the available funding be spent on alleviating the problem for the people of Hollymount and Roundfort.

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I share the Deputies' concern about repeated flooding in the Roundfort-Hollymount area of County Mayo and the need for remedial action. That area around Ballinrobe, Coolabaun, Kilcommon, Rahard and Caravilla is one of Ireland's finest and I express my best wishes to all those affected by the flooding in that area. Indeed, my own home was flooded six years ago and I know all about having to leave a house when the flood waters rise. It is one of the most difficult experiences that a family can have.

In determining how best to address this issue, the Office of Public Works, which proposes to undertake this work, must take into consideration that the area concerned involves two turloughs, which are part of the Kilglassan-Caheravoostia turlough complex special area of conservation, SAC. As such, it is protected under the European Union Habitats Directive. I am sure the Deputies agree that compliance with European Union directives must be a priority for this Government and they would be the first to point out were we to breach those directives.

As they may well know, turloughs are lakes which disappear underground for part of the year. They are a unique feature of this country and an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. They are among the most distinctive of our semi-natural landscapes, and many are of international importance. This complex in Mayo is one of the most important and is host to a wide range of habitats. Turloughs are also listed for priority protection under the Habitats Directive. Where proposed works would affect Natura 2000 sites, such as in this case, it is obligatory that the procedures adopted in considering and implementing proposals are in compliance with this directive.

Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive requires that an appropriate assessment be undertaken of any proposals for works which would be likely to have a significant impact on the site. This assessment has to consider the effects of the proposed works on the protected habitats. My Department is advising the OPW on whether its assessment of the impact of the proposed works has ruled out the possibility of damage to the site.

If it is found that such works would have an adverse impact on the site, in view of its conservation objectives, it may only proceed if certain steps outlined in the derogation provisions of Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive are complied with. This includes all possible alternative solutions being thoroughly examined and excluded. It also requires that a case be made that the works should go ahead due to imperative reasons of over-riding public interest and that all necessary compensatory measures must be taken. In cases where priority habitat is present on the site, the Commission may also need to be consulted before works can proceed.

In the case under consideration, it is important that the particular flood alleviation methods proposed by the OPW do not damage the hydrology of the turlough complex, causing reduction or disappearance of the turloughs in normal years when water levels at the site would not be expected to give rise to concerns.

My Department has received proposals from the Office of Public Works for drainage operations to alleviate the flooding problem, and has examined the associated assessment. My Department's role is to advise on the quality of the assessment in so far as the likely impacts on the site are concerned. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has arranged to meet the OPW in early April in order to arrive at an optimum solution to the flooding problem. I thank the Deputies for raising the question.