Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter and the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Brian Hayes, for coming into the House to respond to it.

I refer to the flooding in Drumconrath, County Meath, on the night of the large floods on the east coast on 24 October, of which I know the Minister is aware. There was a huge flood in the centre of the village in which a flood had not occurred in decades. A number of houses were completely destroyed and it was heart-rending to visit them, as people could no longer live in them. With all the publicity in Dublin, there was very little coverage of the hardship suffered by some of the families affected in the village of Drumconrath. Some of the houses have been in their ownership for hundreds of years.

The Drumconrath area is covered by the OPW under the arterial drainage Acts. Some works were undertaken subsequent to the floods in 2008. The question arises as to whether the works which alleviated the problem in part of the village contributed to flooding in the other part of the village last month. Reports are due on the matter. I raise the issue in the Seanad to highlight its urgency and the severe trauma that has affected those who have had to move out of their homes. I highlight the lack of the knowledge in the village of what is going on. I also wish to exert as much gentle pressure as possible on the Minister of State to treat the matter with the utmost urgency and to get the reports I believe he is expecting and ensure funding is provided as soon as possible to have the work done. This is an opportunity to raise the issue to show how important it is.