Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)

That is unfair. A report has to be complied with. It has gone to Kerry. In fairness to the council, it is examining it and will come back to us. We are working together. There are no people working apart. Both the council and my officials are working on this. It is not as straightforward as the Senator thinks. Nobody in my Department gave a commitment to move machines to the affected area. They would not because the necessary work has to be carried out first. I told the Senator on the last occasion what happened at Lough Funshinagh, County Roscommon, where the i’s were not dotted and the t’s were not crossed. It ended up in a judicial review. We cannot come along and just do A, B and C; we have to comply with the report and follow through on it. I am working with Kerry County Council.

Since I came into office, the number of schemes at construction has increased from five to 11, with two more to follow. There are 100 schemes on the go at present and we have given a total of €4.2 million to Kerry County Council. We are working together; that is how you deliver. I am on the Senator’s side, just as I am on the side of the people of Listowel. Every TD in the Dáil is on to me asking the same question. I am working to deliver on the scheme in question, but we have to work together in doing so. There is no point in telling me my team is doing one thing and another is doing something else.