Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for missing the presentation as I was delayed but the issues raised have ranged over topics not indicated on the agenda. I represent Kildare North where people have experienced flooding in both rural and urban locations. If we were to begin again, we would not build in some locations. Mistakes were made in the past. We cannot repeat the same mistakes in the future. It is important to state that. When the OPW conducts a cost benefit analysis for the remediation of flooding, the analysis will disproportionately favour urban locations because the property loss is greater. That is part of the problem to which I can point in my constituency. In a town, a scheme will remediate a number of housing estates but in a rural area in which the houses are dispersed over a wide area, it is more difficult to introduce a scheme.

I take issue with a number of points raised by Deputy Healy-Rae. We must recognise that climate change is making a significant difference. It does not matter how much sediment and gravel one takes out of the river bed, there will be a problem which we must not exacerbate. Judging from what I have seen of the OPW, it would need to see a robust cost benefit analysis before it will spend public money. I am sure he is aware of that.

Attention was drawn to opportunities created by renewable energy and forestry the involvement of community groups and the role of farmers markets. We will have a debate in the near future about Coillte. There are opportunities in rural Ireland that can be exploited.

The zoning of land is a reserved function. In cases in which the local authority officials make a recommendation, the councillors have the ultimate responsibility in voting on the recommendation. I can point to areas in which very bad decisions were made by allowing development on known flood plains. We must all pick up the price for those decisions but we should learn from the experience. I do not doubt that is a really serious problem for those who are trying to get insurance. I have come across problems in both rural and urban settlements in my constituency. I understand how it plays out and the difficulties it presents for people.