Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This motion serves as a stark reminder of the utter devastation many Deputies of this House witnessed this time last year. Nationwide, we saw 500 homes and 400 businesses flooded over the winter months with an estimated €100 million in damages from a series of storms. Locally, the communities of Thomastown and Inistioge on the River Nore, Graiguenamanagh on the River Barrow and Piltown on the River Suir were some of the worst affected areas in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. These three rivers, the Three Sisters as they are known, flow through my constituency like the primary arteries of a circulatory system. As with the arteries of a circulatory system it is extremely important that they flow well and without blockage. In this vein of thinking, the continuous dredging and maintenance of our waterways can be very effective in the process of flood prevention. However, we always seem to have issues as the EU directives and environmentalists will butt heads with those who call for more dredging as a practical solution. I am calling on the Minister to ensure that the lines of communication between the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Office of Public Works and Brussels facilitate clear and constructive communication.

I also ask him to consider establishing a formal task force consisting of representatives from each of these offices to ensure positive engagement to maximise the effectiveness of our dredging and maintenance systems nationwide. I would appreciate his thoughts on this matter.

I also ask the Minister of State to ensure we do not see tillage farmers who harvest winter crops such as winter barley discriminated against in the future. Crop losses were not eligible under the emergency flood damage relief measure introduced by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, last year. While it might not be under the Minister of State's direct remit, I ask that he raise this matter with his colleague, the Minister, Deputy Creed.

I am delighted that the Fianna Fáil Flood Insurance Bill 2016 is due to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny in the new year after initial reluctance from the Government side. I ask that this process be conducted promptly and efficiently.

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