Dáil debates

Wednesday, 17 June 2020

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed)

 

5:25 pm

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the flood risk management section in the annual transition statement. The document highlights that there will be an increase in extreme weather events resulting in an increased risk of flooding. Flooding has caused irreparable damage to communities and businesses in areas, including west Cork. We desperately need a proactive, whole-of-government and sustainable response.

To deal properly with flooding we must consider the broader landscape. As well as taking into consideration our emissions and climate action commitments, we need to take action on planning, afforestation, piecemeal interventions and inadequate supports that have made communities more vulnerable. Too often, poor planning combined with inaction over years has resulted in communities flooding and then accepting highly-invasive and expensive infrastructure when simple and more robust measures combined with good planning could have avoided and alleviated flooding.

Flood management plans and a culture in the OPW indicate a preference for flood containment measures, which is hard engineering works that significantly impact on the natural and cultural landscape, such as massive permanent walls and embankments. Management plans such as the one for the Bandon-Ilen river basin in west Cork include environmental considerations but allow significant damage to biodiversity and fisheries. No reference is made to the larger environmental impacts such as the emissions associated withconsistently building massive concrete walls.

There is an insufficient use of a watershed approach which integrates flood protection, stream and wetland habitat restorations and water quality improvements. Instead of looking at flooding in a piecemeal fashion we should be addressing it on a watershed scale. Cork’s River Bride in Blackpool is a clear example. Years of minor schemes and developments, including building on flood plains, has contributed to recent flooding and the only solution offered is to culvert, which will destroy a rich wildlife corridor flowing through the city.

We should be planting protection forestry along rivers to preserve water quality and assist in flood management. We need to protect and restore our wetlands as natural defences for fluvial and coastal flooding. Only this week I received calls about damage being done to the Garrylucas wetlands near Kinsale. Retention or storage upstream, throughattenuation and controlled flooding of a natural flood plain, as well as sustainable urban drainage systems, are proven methods of addressing flooding with less of an impact on landscapes and towns. In flood management plans and schemes, the flood containments and increasing-the-flow-capacity of a river are prioritised over small-scale, nature based measures. We should be working with the landscape, using and enhancing natural defences, not working against it.

How committed is the Minister and the OPW to using soft engineering measures such as retention or storage upstream, instead of flood containment options and can the Minister cite examples of where schemes have predominantly used retention-storage upstream over flood containment?

As an activist in local campaigns and a former county councillor, one of the most frustrating things has been the disregard for the opinions of local communities. Local and State authorities just steam-roll through decisions, leaving people no option but to fundraise large amounts of money to appeal these decisions in court. Surely, it should be the other way around. The burden of responsibility should be on central and local government to value and use local knowledge. If we want local democracy we need to foster local participation and not just consultations that can be ignored but real community-led planning. We need to listen to communities to develop workable solutions based on knowledge of the land and the cultural and natural heritage.

Research from UCC’s Dr. Alexandra Revez has highlighted the limited nature of community participation in flooding management processes and the need for greater consideration of social justice and environmental issues. In recent times there has been concern across west Cork about excessive works which irreparably damage natural spaces and tourism amenities. However, official insistence and desperation among communities have forced these schemes through. This situation is now playing out in Cork city. There is heavy opposition from community and businesses to the flood relief scheme and there is little sign of their input being taken into consideration. The OPW and other State bodies should have the highest standards and best practices for public involvement. The OPW should empower communities and work with them. Will the Minister re-evaluate our flood management systems to ensure local communities are included in a much more substantial way?

The annual transition statement makes reference to a coherent whole-of-government approach in addressing flooding but developments on flood plains, inappropriate afforestation and the loss of urban green spaces show this is not the reality. A response from the State requires action on planning, tackling insurance companies that are not providing adequate cover for whole communities and support for families and businesses who are terrified when flooding is forecasted. Insurance, in particular, is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed. Flood relief schemes are only one part of the solution. In west Cork, towns such as Bandon, Skibbereen and Schull need comprehensive responses that address their needs not higher walls. What assurances can the Minister give that there will be a whole-of-government approach, including robust planning policies and insurance reform?

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