Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Eugene Murphy for bringing this motion before the House and for sharing time with me. We must acknowledge that the Flood Insurance Bill will go to Committee Stage, as well as the progress that has been made on flooding problems throughout the country. I respect the role of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I acknowledge the demands being made of him. I am delighted that he has made many trips to County Cork and Cork city. Last Monday, he announced a €140 million flood relief scheme for Cork city, which is welcome.

However, there are still problems in Cork East, including in my area and the town of Midleton. Parts of it were flooded almost 12 months ago. I was there yesterday and I called to some houses in the Willowbank and Lauriston estates which were affected by a river that burst its banks. The people there asked me if they could have immediate small, ancillary works carried out. They made the point that the local authority had put a JCB into the river during the summer to carry out some cleaning at a pinch point but the JCB was given strict orders by the fisheries board that if it was not gone in half an hour, the operator would be brought to court. That is what we are dealing with. I hope minor flood works would incorporate some measures to alleviate that problem so rivers can be cleaned with immediate effect. It would give solace to these householders. It might not stop the overall flooding, but it could minimise it. I get telephone calls from people who ask how they can move forward. People who wish to buy houses in these estates inquire about whether they will be able to get insurance, so we should give them that comfort. I refer them to the Flood Insurance Bill coming to the House.

Property owners saw the prices of their properties diminish during the crisis, but now the prices have been further diminished because the properties cannot get insurance cover. That is the reason we must address all of these issues. Deputy Sherlock mentioned the memorandum of understanding between the OPW and Insurance Ireland on co-operation regarding insurance being provided in areas where flood defences have been put in place, but nothing is happening. I am delighted we are moving on this. It is important that we maintain the pressure. We are not attacking the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, but we are anxious that he maintains the pressure. He will be gone in a few months and I hope the incoming Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, will be as good as Deputy Canney and will continue to visit Cork.

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