David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge his personal commitment to this particular area and the problems that have occurred, as well as the commitment he has just given that interim measures will be financed with haste and without any major red tape and bureaucracy.

Will the Minister of State comment on the need into the future - I hope we will not see it - for a more robust early warning system? We had a situation where this rain was anticipated. If people had been told clearly and quickly to get their stock out of the way and to protect their homes and businesses, we may have avoided some of the devastation; not all of it, but some. It is not just Midleton as areas outside the town, including Killeagh, Mogeely, Whitegate and Ladysbridge, were also impacted by the storm. The Minister of State might direct his officials, or indeed the responsible authority, to have a look at those areas.

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