Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Community welfare officers were employed by the HSE but are now in the Department of Social Protection. They used to go out and knock on doors in various parts of the city where they were aware of people enduring hardship, particularly older people or those on social welfare. I am sure Deputy Ó Snodaigh knows this and has seen the devastation caused. The devastation I saw was absolutely appalling. The job of community welfare officers is to assist. I, therefore, advise the Deputy to meet the appropriate social welfare officers in the areas about which he is speaking because the guidelines are available on the Department's website and can be interpreted sympathetically by them. However, the matter is subject to a means test for reasons the Deputy understands.

I asked the Government and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has agreed to establish a special interdepartmental committee to deal with this issue. Following the floods in Galway and the disastrous floods in Cork, money was spent in providing humanitarian relief. Significant amounts were spent on relocating people, while flood relief works were undertaken by the OPW. If it is a recurring problem, there is only one solution. In Dublin, one month's rainfall fell in a couple of hours. These 100 year events seem to be happening more frequently now. It is hoped the interdepartmental committee will produce greater clarity in the actions various agencies take, including in planning.

See this speech in context