Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Flanagan for sharing time. In the first instance, I send my sympathies to the families, relatives and friends of those who have lost their lives during this tragedy. I think particularly of the tourists in the Sheep's Head area. I hope people can remain safe for the duration of these storms. I acknowledge the work of the emergency services, the ESB and other essential services.

With respect to the issue of flooding, we are faced with three choices: first, we leave things as they are; second, we put in the necessary funding to deal with the issue; or, third, we decide to abandon particular areas that may be subject to flooding. It is important that the Government does not adopt a carte blanche approach, that it looks at each area individually and then decides what is best for the individual and for the common good. I know it is difficult to see some areas completely isolated and cut off, notwithstanding that in some cases planning permission may have been granted for some of these developments that did not necessarily have the support of the technical staff. It is important to judge these issues case by case.

I urge a word of caution, however. The storm we have seen in the south west today, which is working its way up the country as we speak, is probably unique, and we cannot base policy on the damage it may do. A number of flood schemes have been in the pipeline in recent years. With my local hat on, I think of the scheme in Arklow, on which several reports have been drawn up over 20 years. A final report has been completed and it is hoped the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW will grant the funding for it. While the east coast has been relatively unscathed so far during these floods, I would like to think this will not result in funding being moved away from it. In addition, a scheme is under way at Bray that has run into a contractual problem, and I hope that will be completed.

I acknowledge the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, in this area in recent years. I know he has, with his staff, meticulously examined several areas, including my own home town, where €200,000 to €300,000 was provided for flood relief work that has held off the flooding which had occurred regularly in the past ten to 15 years. I welcome his commitment in this regard. However, I would advise the Government to tread cautiously, not to base its decisions on what has happened in recent weeks and to look at the overall scheme of things. We have to decide, as a country, whether we are willing to put the necessary funding in place to make these locations safe because it will take an awful lot more funding than has been granted heretofore.

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