Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The brunt of the recent storm was experienced first on the south-west and west coasts. West Cork was probably one of the first areas to feel the impact of the tempest and it did not get away lightly in the context of the damage that was done. The damage resulted from a powerful combination of strong winds and particularly high tides and tidal surges. These coincided with what might be termed as almost a "perfect storm". The main damage assessed to date by Cork County Council is that done to piers, sea walls and coastal roads. Some 56 separate incidents occurred along the coast of the county, with the majority experienced in west Cork. The untold damage to private property has not yet been assessed. I estimate, however, that the cost of repairing this will amount to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of euro.

The aquaculture sector has been severely impacted upon. Assets such as lobster and shrimp pots and mussel lines were lost and people's livelihoods were swept away with them. Serious damage was done to many of our coastal roads, with some 60 separate incidents throughout the county. The vast majority of these occurred in coastal areas. Repairs will have to be carried out immediately as some sections of road are no longer in existence. I remind the Minister of State of the good work done by local authorities in repairing many of these roads in the aftermath of the severe winters we experienced a few years ago.

Eircom is currently grappling with a problem relating to telephone lines in the Glengarriff and Kealkill areas of west Cork, where thousands of subscribers are without service. This is a particular problem for those who have panic alarms fitted in their homes because the latter do not work without phone lines. I ask that Eircom prioritise the repairing of the lines to the homes of elderly people who have panic alarms fitted.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan outlined, in very eloquent terms, the damage done to Cape Clear Island.

Bere Island, Long Island, Hare Island, Dursey and, to a lesser extent, Whiddy Island off the coast of west Cork have equally suffered some extraordinary damage which will need to be prioritised.

The council has also compiled a provisional list of damage to harbours, beaches, sea defences, roads, lifebuoys and aids to navigation. I hope the Minister of State will be in a position to quickly access and release funds for these essential repair works. The priorities will need to be discussed and it will require a multi-agency effort to reinstate some of the infrastructure. It is easy to see now why the line from Donegal to west Cork is called the wild Atlantic way because the ocean hits hard.

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