James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask about recent flooding in my constituency, particularly around the Midleton area. Last night I met residents in the Woodlands area, as did Deputy Stanton, and in Willowbank. Significant sums of money are needed to help with clean-up operations, with tree-felling, with interim repair works to private bridges and roadways, as well as for preventative measures for flooding. Would the Government consider making an emergency fund available to the local municipal district in order that it can respond to the urgent needs in the area? There was millions of euro worth of damage in a very concentrated area and there is a need for funding to be provided at a local level, directly from Government to Cork County Council.

I want to compliment the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, on the work that has been done by her Department to date.

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