Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Can he confirm whether the Minister, Deputy Hogan, has visited any of the flooded areas affected by storms? Given that he is the Minister in charge, he should get a first-hand assessment of the situation.

A sum of €50 million a year is nowhere near enough. Some €45 million has been allocated this year. The Taoiseach has identified one scheme. Limerick will need protection and the coastal region in Galway needs far stronger coastal protection. The public capital programme has been underspent in the past three years and local authorities have had €400 million taken from them. It was money they thought they were getting via the local property tax but in November it was siphoned back to the centre.

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