5. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the plan to advance flood defences for Crookstown, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71225/25]

Sentiment score: -0.01

When it floods in Crookstown, it floods people's homes and businesses and it blocks off the R585, a key artery in and out of west Cork, the Bantry line. It becomes impassable and the centre of the village quickly becomes flooded. What plans are in place for flood defence works in the village of Crookstown?

Sentiment score: -0.04

There is no quick and easy solution in Crookstown, given the way the flooding occurs. A big aspect of it is the junction at Clifford's and the way that gets inundated and flooded. I understand plans are being advanced with the council on a sump and pumping out. It has been conducting some of that work. It is looking around at a checkerboard of funding options, including climate change adaptation and resilience works as well as its own funding. It impedes any kind of a job being done when it is spending more time hunting down funding streams. For example, when it is waiting to do flood works, it also delays resurfacing on the road and that has occurred for a number of years as well. Could there be one clear path where the council could have the autonomy to get on with any one channel and be able to get on with the work itself?

Sentiment score: 0.21

I thank the Minister of State. First, I acknowledge the co-operation and the back-and-forth with regard to the work that has been done there. We saw it further up the Lee recently, with funding made available in Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh. I acknowledge that and thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge also the co-operation that has been going on in Crookstown. There is definitely no quick or easy answer in Crookstown and if it means engaging with the Department of Transport, I am pretty sure the council will be doing that. Will it need additional resources to take on that responsibility and work in that situation, or will it be able to do it with its existing manpower?

Sentiment score: 0.23