Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I might not go that far.

Seriously, the issue of flooding affects all of us right across the constituencies we live in and indeed this country. I want to discuss not only Bantry and the flooding issues we have encountered there but also the issue of road maintenance and river clearance and drainage. As has been mentioned, Councillor John Michael Foley is here from Timoleague. I welcome him. He has been raising the issue predominantly in the Kilbrittain area during recent flood events, so it has been raised at Cork County Council meetings and it is a really important issue we want to see movement on.

As regards the overall flood schemes in west Cork and the towns of Bandon, Clonakilty and Skibbereen, a lot of investment has been put into the area in recent years by successive Governments. The people who live in those towns can sleep easy at night because of the investment, and I thank the OPW and the Minister of State's Department for that investment. The town of Bantry, however, in many respects has been left behind in terms of flood prevention works. The most recent flooding there in October brought devastation again to the town. A culvert runs through the town but it is not sealed. It simply cannot take the volume of water that now falls and needs to pass through. Thankfully, the Minister of State's predecessor, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, came to town in October. There was criticism of the Minister of State coming to town in that it was only a Minister of State coming to have pictures taken and to be seen and the publicity around it but I pay tribute to the man because since then there has been movement in terms of working with Cork County Council, and a Part 8 application been progressed and finalised for upgrading of the culvert. I thank Cork County Council and the project lead engineer Liam Ahearn for his work on that. We are now at the point of submissions to the OPW for confirmation on the next stage of design on this. That is due to come to the OPW this week. I ask that there be no delay in the progression of this next stage of the scheme because these works are needed. As has been mentioned, flooding can happen during the summer months as well as the winter months. It can happen at any stage. We need to progress this project in Bantry. It is said that it will take about €20 million to upgrade the culvert. I am putting the Minister of State on notice that I will be coming looking for that gift of €20 million for the people of Bantry because the town cannot be left flood again. We need to do all we can. There is an overall flood relief scheme being progressed in the town at the moment, but the culvert is something that can be done simultaneously.

The second issue is the maintenance and clearance of riverbeds. It has been mentioned here a number of times. In my years on Cork County Council it was an issue that was raised continually. I spoke on the issue of disability services last night. Disability services are raised on many doors we go to. It is similar to river maintenance. Once an issue is continually raised, it means it is not being solved. We simply do not maintain our rivers like we used to, and that is not only affecting our property but also risking lives in Kilbrittain, Ballinascarty, the Halfway and Caheragh. Several properties and people's lives are being put at risk. I take on board my colleague Senator Noonan's comments on nature having a role to play in this as well; it does. We can work with and protect nature. For instance, there is a bridge in Caheragh. Both eyes of the bridge are completely backed up with silt, debris and gravel. On the other side of the bridge is a farmer who built back the bank through natural stone and planted trees alongside the river, but the bridge is blocked up. That is having an effect upstream where houses are being flooded. Farmers are afraid to do works because there are fears about Inland Fisheries Ireland and Cork County Council. I know of one farmer who was summonsed to appear in court because of works he did on the river. That is the fear they live with day in, day out.

We need to get real on the issue. I have great confidence that the Minister of State will take on the issue. We need to examine best practice in other jurisdictions. He mentioned engagement with local authorities. We need a board of works and an OPW to get back into our rivers and maintain them. If we cannot have that, we need to grant-aid farmers to allow them to bring in private contractors to clear rivers. We need to think outside the box with the issue. I genuinely have great faith and hope that the Minister of State will take this issue on board, working with all the agencies, including Inland Fisheries Ireland and the EPA, to find a solution. The Arterial Drainage Act has been mentioned. We need to publicise and communicate that Act and ensure people know what they can do and can be funded to do because, ultimately, people's lives and properties are being affected by our lack of clearing and maintenance of drains.