Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One month's rain fell in a number of hours. That will have extraordinary impacts; there is no doubt about that. We do need flood relief schemes in place and they are at various stages. As the Deputy knows, the Bandon one has been especially effective. The Civil Defence, for example, is a volunteer organisation that was out yesterday and we should salute its response. It had pumping, sandbagging and transport for evacuees and it set up rest centres. It had general assistance for homeowners and businesses and has crews and equipment on the ground. It brought boat crews, vans with camp beds and sleeping bags and 4x4 vehicles. It was on the ground again this morning and it will continue to provide assistance. The Army was also on the ground this morning and provided personnel and two 4x4 vehicles for the emergency transport of nurses to and from Mercy hospital in Cork last night. The Defence Forces are engaging on an ongoing basis with the relevant local authorities and attended a cross-agency co-ordination meeting this morning. Likewise, the Garda is highly involved. I single out all those forces for the work they are doing.

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