Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack has called for urgent progress on the long-overdue flood relief schemes for County Laois, particularly in the towns of Mountmellick and Portarlington, which have suffered severe flooding in recent years.​

Addressing the Seanad, Senator McCormack expressed the frustration of local residents over the stalled projects. She stated:​ "We've known for many years now that climate change is bringing more dramatic and more frequent weather events.​

"Storm Éowyn caused severe damage across the country and should serve as a wake-up call for the government to urgently accelerate flood defence plans.​

"Catastrophic flooding hit Mountmellick in 2017, resulting in three river banks bursting simultaneously causing widespread destruction and displacement.​

"People were terrified. Homes and businesses were destroyed. The Defence Forces had to be called in and some families were unable to return to their homes for months.​

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"Despite a report in 2018 recommending a flood relief scheme for Mountmellick, seven years on, progress remains stalled at stage one of the four-stage development. We were told a planning application would be submitted by the end of last year, but there has been no update.​

"Similarly, the Portarlington flood relief scheme is also stuck at the first stage, with progress even further behind.​

"These delays have real-life consequences. One Mountmellick resident whose home was flooded in 2017 now cannot get flood insurance at all.​

"Residents are at the mercy of the government’s timeline. They’ve been living in fear for eight years – how much longer must they wait?​

"While I acknowledge that some delays were caused by further flooding in 2020, which required changes to design plans, such a lengthy timeline for just one phase of the project is unacceptable.​

"In 2023, residents were shown revised plans and there was some hope, but they’ve heard nothing since. There must be reassurance that the flood defences will be in place before another disaster strikes.​

"I am urging the Minister to investigate the delays and to bring a new sense of urgency to delivering flood protection for Mountmellick and Portarlington.​

"There was an expectation that planning for Mountmellick would be submitted in Q4 of 2024. We are now in Q2 of 2025 – where is it? The Minister must look into these delays and give these communities the protection they deserve."