Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House and commend him and his colleagues on how Operation Ophelia was managed. It was a very difficult situation but it was handled in the only way it could be handled. Information was disseminated and prudent decisions taken, certainly with regard to the closing of schools, which always poses a very difficult situation for parents like myself. When people get a chance to further reflect on this at the weekend it will become clear that this was the only course of action to ensure children's safety.The CEO of Limerick City and County Council, Conn Murray, was interviewed on local radio on Tuesday morning. His observation was that if the temporary measures that were put in place in terms of sandbagging and so forth were not put in place, Limerick city would have been flooded. Part of the reason is that Limerick City and County Council has probably become as expert in dealing with floods as any local authority. Over the past five or six years, we have had two major flooding situations with the Shannon in terms of tides and more particularly in the Castleconnell and Montpelier areas. On both occasions, Castleconnell and Montpelier were saved because of the work of the local authority. The water breached the banks of St. Mary's Park in the city, but over the weekend, areas like Clancy Strand and Athlunkard Street in the city were saved because the council workers went out and put up major sandbags and major temporary structures along the banks of the Shannon. That is only temporary. The Minister of State is aware.

I raised the CFRAM study as a Commencement matter in the Seanad last week. I note that the Minister of State made reference to it as well as during his appearance on TV3 last night. It is expected to be published by the end of the year. It is of huge importance to us in Limerick because if there was a flood in the morning, everyone in Limerick could say which areas would be flooded. The areas would be Castleconnell, Montpelier, Mount Shannon Road, Annacotty, Corbally, Athlunkard and St. Mary's Park. In the main, those areas will be exposed and require flood measures. In respect of Castleconnell, when the initial CFRAM draft plan went out, it indicated that it was felt that there were no properties at risk. It had been nearly flooded on two occasions. Luckily, there was a further public consultation. I hope that will be rectified in the final plan. Given my request last week, it is very opportune that the Minister of State has kindly agreed to visit Limerick and see Limerick city and the environs - areas like Castleconnell, Montpelier, Annacotty and Mount Shannon Road - to see exactly what the position is on the ground. Certainly people in the local authority are looking forward to the Minister visiting coming down. He knows from first-hand experience at the coal face in Athlone what the position is and its impact on people's lives.

I commend the Government, the public services and the media. The media did a fantastic public service locally and nationally and worked hand in hand with the services and Government. Regrettably, there were three fatalities. Like everyone else, I offer my sympathies to the three families. It shows the power of nature and that we cannot take anything for granted. I look forward to welcoming the Minister of State to Limerick. It is to be hoped we will finalise a date relatively shortly prior to the finalisation of the CFRAM study. The Minister of State will get to see at first hand how critical it is for us to have permanent defences in place in Limerick city and the environs and how critical it is for the areas I have mentioned. I look forward to seeing the CFRAM study when it is published.