I refer to Private Members’ motion No. 152 on the Order Paper, which seeks the direct intervention of the Government to address a humanitarian crisis faced by eight families in the Ballagh and Lisphelim area of south Roscommon due to the increasing water level in Lough Funshinagh, a situation that is deteriorating daily due to the current heavy rainfall. The motion seeks the establishment of a cross-departmental task force to address emergency climate adaptation measures to protect homes nationwide by reforming the present legislation, without which the only option that may be open to families facing the threat of flooding, where works impact on a designated habitat, is to have the homes demolished and the families relocated. In the middle of a housing emergency, the very last thing we should be doing is demolishing homes. Will the Government commit to bringing all State players together to address the present legal impasse to flood alleviation works?

I thank Deputy Naughten for raising this issue, which I know has quite a history to it. I assure him of the work that is ongoing within the Government to make progress on this. As many of the issues fall within the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, has referred these matters to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for his early consideration and has highlighted that OPW officials are available to discuss these matters with his Department and with other key stakeholders.

Under the direction of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, senior officials from the OPW met with the CEO of Roscommon County Council and the senior engineer on Monday, 20 June, just last week. The meeting focused on identifying possible approaches to a viable solution to manage the flood risk at Lough Funshinagh, and further meetings are being scheduled to follow up on the points discussed. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, has assured the council of his and the OPW's continued support for the council as it works to find a solution to manage the flood risk at Lough Funshinagh.