Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

That is right, for the Ministers too. It is similar to the outbreaks of BSE, TB or brucellosis in the world of farming which are bad news no matter what compensation is offered because the person concerned always loses out. That is the way life is. If flood water passes through one's house, that is bad news. The Government or another agency may compensate one but one's house remains in the path of the water and may be flooded again in the next storm.

Does the Government have a national contingency fund for exceptional cases? For example, in Ballinasloe three houses were badly flooded for the fourth time over several years. They will receive no further insurance cover. One house owner said the flood-water came up from under the floor, bursting the floorboards. No matter what compound was placed outside the house, the flood-water would come in. Does any Department have a scheme, to be executed as usual by the Red Cross, to compensate such a family to enable them leave that house and build a new one on a dry site? This would not happen in all floods. I hope there is an answer to this question because people say there is a fund somewhere until one looks for it and then it disappears. Does a fund exist for exceptional circumstances which, after due scrutiny, show there is no alternative but for people to move house?

The last budget recalls the curate's egg; it was good in spots. It was poor in other spots. The Minister of State is fortunate to be in Government when so much money is available. I supported and congratulated the Government on giving millions of euro to the disabled, which should have been done ten or 15 years ago. The Government, however, should take note of the meeting of representatives of the disabled in the RDS last night who believe they are drawing the short straw. The Government will have to make major changes to the Disability Bill or any work it has done heretofore will go for naught.

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