P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I represent the people of west Cork, particularly the people of Bandon, Skibbereen and Clonakilty, who have been so badly affected by flooding since last Thursday. In Bandon, one could have sailed a boat up and down the town. The same was true of Skibbereen. This is due to the lack of dredging and clearing of the River Bandon and the River Ilen in Skibbereen. Fifteen years ago, Cork County Council made an application to the Department for funding to carry out that work, but nothing has been done about it since then. In fact, I ploughed into 4.5 ft. of water on the main Ballineen-Dunmanway road last Thursday night on my journey home. Fortunately, I was able to reverse and take a detour. I arrived in Skibbereen to find the Irish Red Cross, the fire brigade and other services with all roads into the town blocked. It took me three and a half hours to get from Cork city to Goleen, a journey I usually complete in one and a half hours.

An early warning system is needed, especially for the rivers that have dams, the Inniscarra and Parteen. They must be monitored every 24 hours and the water let down to a level to prevent flooding. If that had been done, there would not have been the catastrophe that befell the County Hall and the Kingsley Hotel in Cork. They are beyond redemption.

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