James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I thank the Department and the Minister. It would be wrong to not acknowledge the Department's rapid reaction to Storm Babet. Flooding occurred on the Wednesday in October when we had Storm Babet in Midleton and across east Cork. On the subsequent Tuesday, the supports were updated from what was previously a fraction of what is now available, which is €100,000. I am not, by any means, ignoring the fact there are businesses, and I will go into this, that are experiencing damages far in excess of €100,000. This morning, Deputy Stanton and I were in the Dáil Chamber raising the issue of a crèche in the area which more than 100 children attended, which is obviously a commercial business. It will avail of the support but the damages it has are into the hundreds of thousands of euro and it is going to take it much longer to open up, so there are specific areas where issues have occurred. Could that specific issue be looked at with regard to what additional support might be made available?

I want to highlight a couple of things around these supports that came through during 2022 from the Department, and I would like to get a response on them. I have had a very peculiar one that came up. Only one person has approached us with this issue. A landlord, or else the tenant - the business - renting a premises, is able to avail of the Irish Red Cross support scheme but owner-occupiers can make only one application. However, we have one business that estimates the damage to be in excess of €200,000. It has two separate companies, one that has the fixed assets in it like the buildings it owns, and a separate business for the company that it runs on the main street of Midleton. It made an inquiry to see if it would be able, in that situation, to put two applications forward to cover for damages. I know there are regulations around what is eligible for that support but that came up, and I know it is a question the chamber of commerce would like to have answered as well.

The consequences of the flooding mean Midleton is going to need a lot of ongoing support. Sadly, huge damage has been done to residential property and, locally, it is a huge worry that some interim solution would be found for the local community when it comes to preventing this from happening again. Otherwise, there is a cost to the taxpayer, and we are back once again at the foot of the Minister's Department asking for emergency funding that will cost significant millions, and tens of millions in fact, when the total cost to the taxpayer with regard to the damage the storm has done is added up. I implore the Minister's Department to impress upon the OPW the importance of some interim solution being found. The flood scheme will take five or six years in terms of what can be delivered. I know that is not relevant to the Minister's Department but, ultimately, the bill comes back to the Department in the form of what supports need to be provided. I pass on my thanks to the Secretary General and the staff who were here with the Minister this morning. The rapid supports in response are appreciated.

Youghal is my home town. It is where I grew up and went to school.

Deputy Stanton has been a TD since 1997 and he has also referenced it. The needs in Youghal are acute when it comes to trying to get commerce going in the town and trying to get IDA Ireland active there. Unfortunately it has backed away for years. I point the finger at the county council's policy on zoning. Sufficient land banks that are zoned for development are not available. This urgently needs to be addressed for the future of Youghal town.

When we look at how we make a location attractive, and why Littleisland, Ringaskiddy, the Carrigtohill IDA park and other locations are so successful, it comes down to connectivity. For Ringaskiddy it is the port and soon there will be the M28 road, which was approved yesterday for a further stage towards construction. For the IDA park in Carrigtohill and Littleisland, the N25 dual carriageway and the Dunkettle interchange are very attractive, along with the rail connection. Unfortunately, Youghal has a large bottleneck issue at Castlemartyr and Killeagh. From the point of view of the attractiveness of investing there it is very obvious to see why people would back away.

The Minister should have a conversation with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, about the N25 scheme. From a commercial perspective, it would bring a great deal of attention to the area. Naturally the IDA park in Carrigtohill, with Stryker and other large companies, has expanded to almost the capacity of the existing premises. There has also been a great deal of development in Littleisland. IDA Ireland needs to look east of Midleton and towards Youghal. From the perspective of the State, the Department of Transport needs to fund planned schemes. We have been waiting 11 months for the outcome of a strategic assessment report. This is what Youghal needs.

I commend the success of the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy, CMATS, 2, in which the Minister has been heavily involved. It is a phenomenal project that has been ongoing since 2018. The projects contained in it, in all strata and departments, are being advanced at a very rapid pace. It will change the landscape of our county and city. I encourage another CMATS that would look at other interdepartmental projects, working with the local authorities involved, to enhance what is being done. It has been such a success that we should not stop in 2030 when these existing plans are due to finish.