P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I speak tonight to represent the people of west Cork, in particular, the people of Bandon, Skibbereen and Clonakilty who were badly affected by flooding in recent months. While I will concentrate on Bandon and the Bandon river to highlight the issues that need immediate attention, similar problems arise with regard to the Ilen river which flows through Skibbereen and as a result of flooding in Clonakilty town.

The Government needs to immediately remove all obstructions from the river beds and banks, including trees, rocks and debris, from five miles north of Dunmanway to Innishannon in the Bandon river and from Caheragh to Skibbereen rowing club on the Ilen river estuary. It must provide emergency dredging along the length of both rivers and ensure the cleaning of all drains and road shores in the affected areas. It must also provide the necessary funding for proposed sewerage schemes in order that construction can start immediately, particularly where the scheme would separate storm water from sewage. All breached flood walls must be replaced immediately and investigations must be carried out in areas where drainage problems occurred.

With the abolition of the arterial drainage scheme 30 years ago, the national programme for dredging or clearance of shrubbery on our rivers ceased. I spoke on this issue only last November when I proposed local emergency plans. The national emergency committee was slow to react in the case of the flooding and, more recently, during the period of sub-zero temperatures. I call on the Minister to create local emergency co-ordinating committees on a pilot basis in different parts of the country. These should, in the first instance, investigate the cause of the flooding, propose remedies to prevent or limit the recurrence of flooding and draw up plans to cope with the consequences of a recurrence. They should be able to establish local centres for emergency services.

As the Fianna Fáil-led Government has failed at national level to cope with these problems, we need to make greater use of local organisations to build a co-ordinated network to provide local volunteers. Temporary flood barriers should be available at short notice. We need to ensure comprehensive plans are in place to provide clean drinking water, emergency lighting systems and the restoration of power.

The Green Party promoted grants for the insulation of homes on energy efficiency, environmental, economic and employment grounds. I propose that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and member of the Green Party, Deputy John Gormley, create a similar scheme to allow those living in flood risk areas to install flood protection measures in their homes. I also ask him to introduce clear legislation regarding the legal implications of clearing footpaths of snow and ice by residents and business owners.

The Maltese snowman, also known as the Minister for Transport, is reported to have said he could not think of one other action that could have been taken if he had been in the country in the four or five days prior to his return to the country. If that is the case, perhaps he should reflect on his position, melt away and make way for someone else with one clue about how to do things better.

Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Our Minister for Transport sunbathed while his constituents and the people of Ireland froze and shivered at home.

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