Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. It is opportune that he is here, given that he knows as well as I do how devastating the flooding has been in south Roscommon and south Westmeath. I raise this matter out of sheer frustration because nothing has happened since the devastating floods last winter. Water levels were extremely high during September, when the Callows around Clonown in the Minister of State's area and Golden Island flooded. Farmers are frustrated at having their land flooded which results in their not being able to use it for grazing from as early as September. I have been to Meelick, a place dear to the Cathaoirleach's heart, and have seen where the river has not been cleared or cleaned. The OPW gave an undertaking that it would spend time maintaining it, but this has not happened. I was pleased to see, however, that the gates were open.

The report referred to the fact that the ESB had not been informed of or involved in making emergency plans. Having read the committee's report, it seems matters are as haphazard as they were this time last year. The report contained much that commended, which I thought was ridiculous considering the devastation caused. I had hoped the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, might grace us with his presence, even though he did not grace the committee with his presence. He needs to take the lead. I understand the OPW is the lead organisation. However, I do not expect agencies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the ESB and Waterways Ireland to bow to its authority. A Cabinet Minister needs to take the lead. Rivers, including the tributaries through Ballinasloe, etc., need to be maintained in order that water can flow freely and sluice gates can be opened in a timely manner if water levels are rising. If the forecast is bad, we need someone to be able to give instructions to allow urgent action to be taken to avoid a recurrence of the devastation caused last winter.

I am very disappointed that there were no hard conclusions in the report and there has been no reply from either Minister. All I can see are endless references to what is happening in County Cork. People living in the midlands and River Shannon region were affected just as much as people living in County Cork were. While I have no axe to grind with people living in County Cork, we must not be left on the hind tit. We must be looked after, unlike the last time.