I raise the issue of flooding in Bantry, which I raised on the Order of Business earlier this week. Since then, it has become known that 22 businesses flooded in the town the other morning. As I said on local radio yesterday morning, it is tough for public representatives to go on radio and speak about flooding because we are not the people who have to open the businesses and see the devastation or the people living in homes where they cannot go to bed at night without the fear that their lives will be at risk. In Bantry, an overall flood scheme is progressing. The overall timeline for it is up to 2030 or 2031, which is a number of years away. In the meantime a culvert can be upgraded and that work needs to be progressed.

I am seeking a debate with the Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works in light of recent flooding events. There is an early warning system that can be put in place in Bantry. There is a monitor which records the level of flow in the culvert in question. It has been in place for three years. Last Tuesday morning, the highest level of water passing through that culvert was recorded. We should have an early warning system. We should have the technology - and the science behind it - to alert both local authorities and the fire service, but, importantly, to also alert residents and business owners that their properties could be at risk. I am making a clear ask of the OPW and local authority in Cork to put that in place. I would welcome a debate on the matter with the Minister with responsibility for the OPW in due course.