Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Minister of State is busy and it is not my intention to delay him. A number of residents and members of Meath County Council, including my friend and colleague Damien O'Reilly, have been in touch with me about the issue of the flood relief works which have been carried out in Dunboyne and Clonee as a result of flooding which took place more than a decade ago. Those flood relief works are a model of the type of work we would hope to see all around the country. They have worked, and are expected to work, really well.

A number of residents have expressed some concern about the growth that is taking place in the rivers at the moment. I understand that may be summer growth and will rectify as the seasons progress but if the Minister of State were to put on the record the OPW's view on it, that would alleviate a lot of concerns. There are also concerns about the need for the OPW to carry out regular maintenance work underneath bridges to ensure this project is kept in the way it has been built. It has been an excellent project by the OPW and we want it to continue. I am not here to scaremonger but to represent views expressed by residents in the area.

On a side note, and it is the Minister of State's responsibility as well, insurance is still an issue in the area. Even this summer, people contacted me. I can list the names of people who have had serious difficulties getting insurance even though these flood works are a model of their kind. Our concern is that the OPW would continue to maintain the project in the necessary way.