Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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As we know, this continues to be a very difficult and anxious time for the people affected by or even at risk of flooding. People are living in fear and uncertainty. People, some of them elderly, are worried sick about feeling trapped in their homes. This is a very stressful time, particularly for older people. I have seen it myself helping people to leave their homes. Nobody should have to leave their home in fear. This is clearly a humanitarian situation where properties are at the mercy of flood damage and householders and businesses are sick with worry about how they can rebuild their lives.

What makes the situation more distressing is the fact that many of the properties do not have flood insurance. Some families spent their life savings after the floods of 2009 putting their homes back in order. Where do they go now for help? The Government should invest in or design a package aimed at people who cannot get flood insurance. This is not about a handout for people. These people can pay and have always paid their insurance. I am cognisant of the fact that this Government recognises the need to support people and businesses at a time of crisis, particularly during the run up to Christmas. I strongly welcome the introduction of the €5 million fund set up so quickly to aid small businesses which have suffered damage. It is critical that the initial sum of €5,000 is paid out before Christmas, as has been promised, with the further €15,000 delivered as soon as possible after Christmas.

I ask the Government to explore what supports are available for farmers, who I understand are ineligible for the emergency funding despite the fact that they are businesses. Farms have been flooded, property has been damaged and fodder has been destroyed as a result. Farms are enterprises and should be included in any funding scheme.

There is a separate humanitarian assistance scheme for householders. The scheme aims to provide for people who have suffered damage to their homes. I appeal to the administrators to make an extra effort to process these applications as quickly as possible and I appeal for an increase in staff, if necessary.

Apart from the financial measures, there are a number of practical measures, including relatively small remedial works, that could be looked at to alleviate flooding in the long term. In 1979, levels in Lough Rea were raised temporarily for navigation purposes but as far as I am aware, they have never been restored to their original level. I ask for this to be looked at in the context of current flooding. It is also clear that sections of River Shannon need dredging. Essentially, this involves clearing bog and undergrowth out of the river. The premise is simple. It is like a drain that has been blocked. If it is cleared, the water can flow. The Minister of State is probably aware of the cut at Mellick and Banagher which allows Lough Rea waters to flow into Lough Derg. This cut badly needs clearing as it is completely overgrown. Some work was done after 2009 and it made a huge difference but it still needs more remedial work. It is an issue that should be addressed as soon as possible.

The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management, CFRAM, report is due in 2016. A total of 300 flood risk areas were identified nationally as part of this work and over 60 of them are along the River Shannon. I want to see long-term solutions as possible arising from this report with one of them being one lead authority for the River Shannon.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge that this is a very important issue for the Deputy who is from the constituency that has been most affected by the flooding over the past number of days. As the Deputy rightly noted, the Government approved the allocation of €5 million to be distributed as emergency humanitarian support to small businesses that through no fault of their own have been unable to secure flood insurance and have been flooded recently. The scheme, which is being administered by the Irish Red Cross Society, will provide a once-off ex gratia contribution to the costs of damage incurred by those small businesses which were unable to secure flood insurance and were flooded arising from the impact of Storm Desmond during the period from 4 to 17 December 2015.

The scheme is aimed at providing a contribution to the costs of returning business premises to their pre-flood condition, including the replacement of flooring, fixtures and fittings and damaged stock. It only applies to rateable premises that have been flooded and it is intended as an emergency humanitarian assistance contribution rather than compensation for loss or a replacement for the cover provided by insurance.

The emergency nature of the response to the impact on businesses affected by the flooding required a speedy process in order to meet the needs of affected businesses. In this regard, a two-step approach is being taken involving an initial application which, if successful, will lead to a quick payment which will be capped at €5,000 per property. Application under the €5,000 threshold will be paid following a rapid verification process.

It is anticipated that some businesses will have incurred significant damages and will require a more detailed assessment of losses incurred. The second stage of the scheme will be a more lengthy process requiring a detailed assessment and will provide the scope for a further payment with the total payment available capped at €20,000.

Application forms for the scheme are available on the Irish Red Cross website. I encourage all businesses affected by flooding to go to the Irish Red Cross website.

The humanitarian assistance scheme of the Department of Social Protection is available to assist people whose homes are damaged by flooding and other adverse weather conditions and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair. The Department of Social Protection has activated its humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by the local community welfare service, to assist householders affected by the current bad weather conditions. The situation in all affected areas is being monitored and community welfare service staff are engaging with the local authorities and other agencies to ensure supports are being provided to those affected as swiftly as possible. Staff are assessing and meeting the demand for assistance by the public as needs arise and, when necessary, are visiting the homes of persons affected. This is happening in the Athlone area where the Department of Social Protection officials are in constant contact with Westmeath County Council and are providing whatever supports are required, including the provision of additional clinics and visits to persons' homes, as necessary. Emergency community welfare service clinics have been established in Grace Park Road, Athlone, operating mornings and afternoons.

The Defence Forces and Civil Defence have been actively involved in assisting householders and businesses in Athlone under the terms of the framework for major emergency management. All of the available resources of the Defence Forces have been made available to support the principal response agencies and the Defence Forces have responded positively to all requests for support. In the Athlone area, the Defence Forces have provided personnel and vehicles to support the provision of lighting and the filling of sandbags. In addition, floating water pumps have been provided to Westmeath County Council. The Air Corps has provided and continues to provide air reconnaissance of rivers and coastal areas in the Headford and Athlone areas.

The local Civil Defence units from Westmeath and Roscommon have been assisting with flood relief efforts including evacuating families from their homes, moving furniture, distributing sandbags and delivering fuel. I commend the Defence Forces, Civil Defence and all other agencies and volunteers who have tirelessly worked to assist householders and businesses in Athlone and other flood stricken areas around the country over the past ten days.

Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take this matter. This situation is not sustainable for communities and businesses. They cannot continue to endure it. I know the Government is committed to doing all it can. It is not just a matter of planning but of investing the resources needed to implement these flood defence plans that are so talked about. I am very pleased to see the considerable investment allocated. I know the Government has set aside more money for the next five years than has been spent in the previous 20 years and that can only be good for Athlone.

I have been assisting in the emergency support efforts in Athlone since the flooding hit the town and have seen at first hand the huge effort invested on behalf of many people, not least by the volunteers who have been working 24 hours a day for the past two weeks. I pay tribute to the volunteers, the local authority, the Defence Forces, the Civil Defence, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Red Cross and the Health Service Executive, not just in Athlone but around the country. Athlone has united to assist people in their time of need. The battle continues to keep the flood at bay but the resilience shown by the local communities is incredible. Many businesses have donated food to the volunteers. The Irish Red Cross had to pay for pumps on a personal credit card. That is not good enough. The national flood emergency response plan has to be reviewed when we recover from the situation we are in now.

While the outdoor staff and executive of Westmeath County Council have worked tirelessly and exceptionally hard in the past two weeks, we need to know why the Army was not called out earlier in Athlone as it was in other towns and why any member of the Irish Red Cross would have to pay for a pump on a personal credit card. Surely the council should have enough money to provide pumps where they are needed.

I want to send out a clear message that Athlone is very much open for business. This is a very important time of year for local businesses and I cannot emphasise enough to shoppers that they are more than welcome to come into Athlone and to move about freely. The town is not flooded.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I too acknowledge the volunteers trying to save premises from being flooded over the past few days. They have worked tirelessly almost 24 hours a day. They have to be applauded for that. The Deputy said the Irish Red Cross had to pay for pumping machines and diesel with a personal credit card. That is not acceptable. I asked officials in the Department to call the county manager in Westmeath County Council but he was not aware of that. I am not sure of the background to this story but the Deputy should contact the people in the Irish Red Cross and tell them to contact the assistant chief fire officer, Mr. Pat Hunt, about this. The Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence have been working closely with the Irish Red Cross, even though it is independent.

The Deputy mentioned the Defence Forces not being called out earlier. I understand that is a matter for Westmeath County Council in that the Defence Forces were at the disposal of councils when called. It is entirely up to the people in charge to put the call in to the Defence Forces. It is not the fault of the Defence Forces that they were late. It was for Westmeath County Council to make the call. I spoke to some of the senior officers in the Athlone area and they were willing and able to help when they got the call.

The Deputy also mentioned homes being flooded. She should encourage people to go to the Department of Social Protection. There are welfare officers on the ground willing and able to help because this is a difficult time of year, coming up to Christmas. They will assist householders with in financial need.

The flood level in Loughrea and the sections of the River Shannon and Lough Derg needing dredging are matters for the Office of Public Works. I will bring them to the attention of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Harris, who has been very involved with the flooding in the Athlone area and I have no doubt he plans to visit there. I will get the officials to do that this afternoon.

Yesterday I answered a Topical Issue matter raised by a Deputy opposite about flooded farm land and advised him to raise the issue with the Minister for Agriculture, Deputy Coveney, and the Department. I promised that I would also raise it with the Minister and I will but I also encourage farmers to get in contact with farming organisations, such as the Irish Farmers Association or the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association. I have no doubt those organisations will be in touch with the Department of Agriculture and Food regarding the problems, whether a fodder crisis or whatever, in the area.

I know the Deputy has been very involved in helping people and their families in Athlone over the past few days. I commend her for that because people depend on their public representatives at such times. I will bring the issues she has raised to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, and the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, and encourage her to contact Mr. Pat Hunt, the assistant chief fire officer in Westmeath County Council regarding the Irish Red Cross payment with a personal credit card.

Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I have no question about the willingness of members of the Defence Forces to come out the minute they were asked. My problem was that the Westmeath County Council did not ask them out in time. Something should be done afterwards to make the plan a national one. I know that members of the Army in Athlone were willing and able to come out.