I want to raise the national catchment flood risk assessment and management programme, CFRAM. Storm Babet caused major devastation in my constituency, in Cork North-Central and Waterford. A number of the places in my constituency that were flooded as a result of the storm, including Castlemartyr, Mogeely and Rathcormac, had flood management plans in place. There were also plans to carry out relief works in these areas. However, they are caught up in what is referred to as tranche 2, which is another delaying mechanism used by the OPW in the context of funding. There has to be some prioritisation, where CFRAM is expedited for settlements which have already flooded. Could the Minister bring this to the attention of the OPW on my behalf and on that of my constituency? I refer, in particular, to Castlemartyr, Mogeely and Rathcormac and other parts of the county that are caught up in this issue with tranche 2.

Residents in those areas should not have to worry and wait any longer.

I thank the Deputy for raising this. I actually visited Castlemartyr with Deputy O'Connor and I agree with him. I will certainly raise these three towns, and the other issues the Deputy mentions, with the OPW on his behalf. I know he has been advocating very strongly for them. Work we are doing within my own Department, separate to that, is to improve the flood forecasting in our rivers and river catchment areas, which is very important. I actually brought a memo to Cabinet very recently on that to review the response to, and the preparation in advance of, storm events like those we have seen already this year. I will raise this directly with the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW to see if these schemes can be advanced as a matter of urgency.