Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will follow on from what Deputy Kenny said about climate change. When flooding incidents happen we are happy to talk to about climate change but as the news agenda moves on it is forgotten about until the next big flood and then it becomes topical again. If we continue as we are, in ten, 15, 20 or 100 years time we will regret not having done anything about it. Needless to say, Ireland on its own cannot solve the problem as it is a global issue but we must keep the matter on the world stage and under discussion. Talk is cheap. Something must be done. Action is required.

Many Members who discussed the recent flooding have been parochial and I will do likewise. Part of the constituency I represent is in south Galway which suffers terribly from flooding. In 1995 the area was destroyed and when I got elected as a councillor in 2009 the same flooding occurred. A number of weeks ago the area was flooded again. People in the area are concerned because in 2009 in particular we were told that it was a one in 100 year event. My three years in politics seems to have taken forever so far with all that has happened but it has not been 100 years since the previous flooding event. Unfortunately, it will happen again.

Some works have been carried out in south Galway. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and the OPW, minor works have been carried out where it was possible to do so. I fully understand the cost benefit analysis that is required to be carried out prior to the allocation of funding on the basis that houses or life must be under threat. Much of the problem in south Galway relates to agricultural land. Hundreds of acres are completely destroyed for the year ahead. The land is still under water as we speak. Last weekend when five houses in Ardrahan got flooded the news found its way into the media. We need long-term solutions.

Needless to say, in recent years there have been many reports and many calls for action. The one thing we continue to get wrong is that we do not listen to the people on the ground who live in the areas prone to flooding. Any number of experts will give us reasons for doing things in certain ways. It is easy to come from Dublin or wherever else, deliver the news and drive back home on the same day. The experts do not have to live with the situation. Farmers and local business people see the problems on a daily basis and if their advice were taken on board it could lead to their alleviation.

Outside the village of Ballindereen a small bridge is holding up hundreds of acres of what is now, in effect, a lake. The local people have been told the bridge cannot be moved for environmental reasons. That goes back to who is the lead agency. I accept the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, has said the OPW is but, unfortunately, by the time it makes a decision it can be stopped through the planning process or by other agencies. Let us be honest; at the end of the day nothing gets done. The news agenda will move on until we come back to the flooding issue again. I understand that money is tight but surely when the local people can show one an area as bad as that which I have outlined and a solution that requires minimal input then the work should be done. Other issues arise also in south Galway. Work must be done taking those issues into account.

In 2009 a man by the name of Tom Flatley had a house in Ardrahan flooded before he moved to the area. His plan was to build a house beside it, which he did. He was completely new to the area and both houses were flooded. The previous Government announced a compensation scheme at the time but he cannot get a cent from it due to the ridiculously strict specifications and restrictions on it. The scheme has done him no good. He has two massive mortgages and no way to address the problem. Those who have managed to achieve either relocation or funding have had to go to great lengths to prove their entitlement to compensation. I have no doubt the money is available. We must make it easier for people who need access to the scheme to do so quickly. There is no point in announcing the availability of a fund to find that only a certain percentage of it was drawn down. If people could access the money properly and efficiently they would do it. Why would they not if their house or land was destroyed? I spoke to Mr. Flatley today who informed me that he has still not received anything from the Department. He got planning permission for a house on a flood plain and the county council never told him that it was a flood plain. The arms of the State let that gentleman down and one could ask what he got in return. He got two massive mortgages, no help from the State and no chance of getting out of the situation either. The banks must step in to help him. It is simply not fair.

I have no doubt the money is available to help people and it must be made available in a manner that is easy to access and draw down. People’s lives and livelihood have been destroyed in recent weeks and it is important for the Government to step up and make it easy for them to access assistance. Deputy McLoughlin’s timing is good.

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