As the Minister of State is aware, the floods in the south east were the severest in many years. Unfortunately, my hometown of Enniscorthy, along with Bunclody, Bridgetown, Our Lady’s Island, Kilmore, Kilcarberry and Killurin experienced extensive flooding with some roads obliterated altogether. Sixty businesses were affected, some of which have stated they will not open again. Some 35 homes were destroyed by water and contaminated effluent. A local postman told me that he delivered letters to homes where the muck and dirt was up to the letter boxes. Most of these homes are occupied by old-age pensioners. Island Road in Enniscorthy and the quays on both sides of the River Slaney took the brunt of the floods. This has occurred 16 times since 2000, not to mention the years in between when the people were put on full flood alert with their homes and businesses threatened again and again. I thank the Minister of State for visiting those homes. I am sure he realises the anguish, the torment, the feelings of desperation and the sleepless nights these people have gone through. Generations have faced the same thing over and over again. They have not got a snowball’s chance in hell of getting insurance. They must replace every stick of furniture, including kitchens, fridges, personal belongings and most of their white goods themselves. Some businesses are facing bills of well over €80,000. This has been going on for decades. The people of Enniscorthy and Wexford will no longer put up with what can only be described as wilful neglect. It is only with the luck of God no one was drowned or injured. Thanks and gratitude must go to the units from Slaney Search and Rescue and all the other organisations involved. Planning permission for the Slaney flood relief scheme was turned down because of the freshwater pearl mussel, a fact that is infuriating people. Surely this species can be translocated just like the Dublin Bay oyster. I plead with the Minister of State to act now. Under section 7 of the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, he can approve flood relief works independently of the planning system. Things need to happen and need to happen now. Climate change is not waiting for anybody. As sure as night follows day, flooding will continue and will occur again. The people of Wexford need the Minister of State’s full assurance that he will sort this out. He must rein in the OPW, the relevant Departments and Wexford County Council and get the planning application across the line once and for all and to immediately apply the interim measures. Wexford County Council has completed an interim plan but I understand that it must be agreed on by the Ministers and the OPW. I ask that this be done and be treated as a humanitarian emergency and not be delayed any longer. It is the least the people of Enniscorthy and Wexford deserve after being left unprotected for over 25 years and denied their rights to a proper flood defence scheme.

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