Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue, clarify some matters and seek information from the Department regarding its response.

I empathise with everyone who has been and continues to be affected by what has been happening since the weekend. We can only hope and pray that their homes, businesses, livelihoods, farms and so forth can be saved from the disaster that many fear is imminent despite their efforts to withstand the pressure being caused by the floods. It is only right and proper that we acknowledge and pay tribute to the various stakeholders for the help that has been given across the country from Crossmolina to Bandon and everywhere in between, including Athlone, east Galway, Clare and Shannonbridge, Shannon Harbour, Banagher and so forth in my county of Offaly. I refer to local authorities and their staff, the Red Cross and volunteers, but also to the great community spirit that has been shown by everyone involved in the efforts to help in urban and rural areas.

The difficulties are continuing. Unfortunately, it emerged in recent weeks that the Office of Public Works, OPW, had underprovided for flood defences by €15 million. This is cold comfort to the people in question, but it may offer an opportunity for the Government to ensure that sufficient resources and funding are available to address the issue. From a humanitarian perspective, it is the responsibility of the Tánaiste and the Department of Social Protection to respond to those households that have been affected by providing white goods, clothing, bedding, food, etc. Funds should be made available immediately.

The minor works and drainage works schemes have been cut by 3% per annum since 2010. That remedial and preventative work was carried out by council staff. As Deputy Fitzmaurice stated today, there has been a loss of up to 60% in local authorities' outdoor staff in recent years. The ensuing problems are crystallising as we speak in terms of insurance. People are beginning to ask about accountability and culpability. We wonder about promised flood defence mechanisms and the funding that, despite being available from the Department for onward transmission to local authorities, was not drawn down. Could it be that people will be in a position to ask questions of those whose foot-dragging may have caused this problem?

The previous major storm struck in January 2014.

The local authority in my county proposed that the Department meet the cost it had incurred. It is currently incurring costs. The cost of the works in respect of which it made its proposal amounted to €439,000. Eventually, after six, eight or ten months, the local authority was reimbursed to the tune of €43,000. While local authorities and the other stakeholders are making every effort to address the difficulties that exist, they need to hear from the Department that they will be reimbursed in full, irrespective of the cost, without foot dragging by the Department in making the funds available. In this way people can be safe and secure in the knowledge that every effort is being made and that every possible source of funding is being used by local authorities to address the difficulties in the full knowledge the local authorities will be reimbursed. This has not been the case in recent years.

See this speech in context