Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Seven years on, we are still stuck at stage 1. At the rate this is going, a lot of us will not be around when the project is constructed. It has to go through five stages. The length of time it is taking is leading to an increase in costs but my main concern is the impact every time there is heavy rainfall. Unfortunately, due to climate change, rainfall levels are getting more intense. People in the town are paying close attention to the weather forecasts. People in Portarlington are the same. After seven years, the project is stuck at stage 1. What I am being told this morning is incredible. What will the OPW do to advance this scheme?