Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to discuss the devastation caused by flooding in north County Louth last week. It has been a tough week for everybody in my home area. I commend those who went days without rest in order to try to save their homes, businesses and farms. Some, unfortunately, did not get to save them. There are buildings and fields that are still flooded. One week on, people are still not able to access homes and roads. I thank the council workers who worked tirelessly all week, but there were not enough of them. We did not have enough council workers at the scene over the period of the flooding. Neither the Civil Defence nor the Army were deployed. We were in a desperate way in north Louth last week. Many people felt isolated and alone. Only for public representatives fielding calls and screaming for help for people, I do not think they would have got it. It was a very tough time.

I call for a debate on emergency planning. What should local communities expect from our local authorities when an issue like this arises? Are we relying on the good nature of neighbouring farmers to pump out our homes in accordance with a waiting list based on proximity? Should we be relying on our local authorities, Civil Defence and authorities to support people in their homes? There were elderly people stuck in homes for three days last week. The water on the road was not going to be pumped away. We had to scream to get permission for the fire brigade to pump it out and give people access. Thankfully, we have schemes for enterprises and homes, but we have no scheme for the agricultural enterprises that have been destroyed. We have fields, fences and fodder destroyed and rivers redirected and ruined, as well as many access roads destroyed across north Louth. We need support for the agricultural enterprises in the area.