I thank the Minister of State for visiting Passage East on Sunday last. He met with the local authority and with residents whose homes were affected by flood damage. He would have heard at first hand that what those who were affected by the floods in Passage East want is less talk and more action. There were concerns raised - rightly so - by residents in regard to the response from Waterford City and County Council. They were not pointing the finger of blame at individual staff members. They acknowledged that the staff do a very difficult job in difficult circumstances, but it was acknowledged, even by the CEO of the council, that there have to be learnings. There were failings, and we have to get better at supporting communities during floods. Having visited Passage East before the Minister of State went there, it was obvious that multiple problems have been exposed. It is not just one problem; the whole system is antiquated. It is not just from the brook where, obviously, if you have very heavy rain and a high tide, a great deal of water is going to flow downhill. The water brings with it stones and other debris that block the system. The culvert there is fit for purpose. The drainage system comprises old clay pipes. The entire system is antiquated. What happens is that everything goes wrong when there is a high tide and heavy flooding. Homes are damaged as a result. There is a lot of work to be done in the village. There are five schemes that are at an advanced stage in Waterford. All five need to be developed, including the one in Tallow. My colleague Councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy has raised this matter consistently at council level. The project relating to Tallow is important and needs to be delivered. All five projects are at an advanced stage and they need to be properly supported, funded and delivered, once and for all. I hope that will be the case in the aftermath of the Minister of State's visit.

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