The programme for Government laid out a plan to tackle flooding, with €450 million to be spent over five years. I am sure the Minister has read the recent reports by Paul Melia in the Irish Independent. Those reports are shocking, with headlines such as "Perfect storm will cause havoc for businesses again if nothing is done", "Dozens of towns will never get protection from floods because sums do not add up" and "Vulnerable town fears a repeat of recent history". The Government has barely dipped its toes in the water in the context of this massive crisis. We have had eight or nine months of good weather and nothing has been done. There has been no dredging and no drainage.

When will the Government wake up to the fact that this is a huge crisis for many parts of Ireland? When can we expect to see real action? If proof is needed of my assertion that nothing is happening, it can be found in the articles I have mentioned. We need immediate action. Communities are still recovering from the appalling mess that was created last year. This is a challenge for those who are in government. It is clear that this Government has not grasped this issue and is not acting on it.

I understand that after many years when nothing was done in this area, a substantial increase in the commitment to capital funding has been made. More money has been spent in undertaking flood relief in recent years than had been spent for many years.

That is not true.

I understand that over 300 locations where strategic plans need to be put in place have been identified.

More fake news. The Minister must have got the bug from Leo and Simon.

Those plans have to be developed with input from the community and the local authorities. There is a commitment to address this in a systematic way. Such a plan was not there in the past.