Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

Flooding is not a new phenomenon. People might say that is obvious but sometimes we need to remind ourselves of it. It happens as a consequence of the weather which, particularly in Ireland, is predictable in its unpredictability. Many factors cause flooding. In recent years, we hear much mention of the issue of climate change but there is no proven link between our recent floods and climate change. It may become a factor in the future and is obviously something we must prepare for and adapt to, but there are other factors including development and rainfall amounts. In November 2000, flooding occurred in Lucan. Rain had fallen throughout the month followed by even heavier rain. The ground became saturated and the water had nowhere to go. My understanding is that the current flooding throughout the country has been caused by similar conditions in that a lot of rain fell this month and the water had nowhere to go.

Flooding is a fact of life. It happens every year in different areas and at different times. Last August, very severe flooding occurred in parts of the country. Our approach has tended to be reactive. The flood policy review group said our policy was reactive and that we needed to manage the risk of flood, be prepared, minimise the damage and, where possible, avoid flood risk.

Bad planning decisions were made in the past but it would be difficult to build without creating some flood risk. Populations increase. We have families and therefore houses must be built, but we must implement measures to minimise the flood risk that comes with development, which is a problem with which we must deal.

The flood policy review group, which is under the auspices of the Office of Public Works, reported in 2004. That is Government policy and we should implement it. It is good policy. To be fair, good work has been done including the flood mapping and the other aspects the Minister mentioned, but it has been slow. For example, Goodbody did a report for the OPW in 2008 and it has highlighted the fact that the implementation of that report has been slow and that there had been inadequate resourcing of it.

I raise the issue of humanitarian assistance. When flooding occurred in Lucan some years ago, money was provided through the Irish Red Cross. The flood policy review group recommended that the Government use the community welfare officers network to provide that funding for hardship but I am not sure that is a good idea. Many people experiencing hardship as a result of the flooding have never been to a community welfare officer and might believe there is a stigma attached to going to these officers. In terms of this issue, I do not believe community welfare officers are sufficiently experienced or trained to make a judgment on whether someone should get funding.

Under the Commissioners of Public Works (Functions and Powers) Act 1996, the OPW has the power to make schemes or other arrangements for the provision of assistance whether in the form of money, accommodation and so on to those who have suffered by reason of flooding. There is much to be said for having an agency like that or the Irish Red Cross administering the humanitarian scheme, and it should not be something that is announced a few days after an event. There should be a standing hardship scheme for people who experience flooding and it should be topped up by the Government when extreme flooding occurs.

On the issue of staffing, the Goodbody report for the OPW found that a major problem in terms of the delay of delivery of flood relief schemes, which, as Deputy Sherlock said, work and are a necessary part of Government policy, is manpower deficiencies. It took a long time for the OPW to get the 30 extra staff it was promised to help it with its work on flood management. A total of 4,000 jobs have been lost in local authorities throughout the country. A total of 500 people were let go in Cork County Council. Those are the conditions in which the council has had to work. As other speakers said, the work on flood relief by the various agencies has been sterling, but they have been doing it under pressure and with far fewer staff than they had a year ago. That issue must be addressed. There must be flexibility. The Government should provide extra funding to the local authorities that need them and they should be allowed to employ additional personnel if it is necessary to do so.

Both the flood policy review group and the Goodbody reports found there has been under-spend on flood relief over the years. We need sustained, adequate and strategic funding for flood relief schemes because they work.

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