Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

With the impact of the recent winter snowstorms and Storm Éowyn still being felt, with 18,000 still without power, it is vital that this Government commence a relief scheme to support those who have suffered damage to commercial property and farming property. I have been contacted by many people over the past three weeks who have had damage to their homes and business following the effect of these storms. I have also been contacted by numerous farmers who have suffered significant damage to property. Many of these have told me that their insurance policies do not cover damage to property caused by storms and extreme weather events. Whatever the Minister stated earlier about insurance companies and his contact with them, it does not cover the majority of people who have contacted my constituency office.

Many small businesses, small farmers and households simply do not have the funds to manage these repairs. They are now in a position where their livelihoods and homes are damaged through no fault of their own. The Minister might note in the programme for Government that there is an extreme weather assistance scheme that the Minister said predated this storm. If we are to say that this storm is the worst so far in the history of the State, I would expect Deputy Calleary, as Minister, to outline whether or not he will bring in a humanitarian assistance scheme for small farmers and small businesses affected where insurance does not provide coverage. Following previous storms and flooding events, that humanitarian relief scheme was established to support people who have suffered such losses during these weather events. These supports will be vital for households and small enterprises to rebuild their homes and livelihoods going forward.

To give an example of a farmer, a small farmer in north Cork contacted me, initially regarding significant damage to a shed roof due to excessive snow build-up leading to the roof caving in, rendering that shed unusable. It was incredibly fortunate that there were no animals or people in the shed at the time, as the loss would have been much worse. This happened during the snowstorm experienced at the beginning of January. This farmer has been told by his insurance company that damage caused by weather events such as this is not covered by the insurers. I find that to be totally unfair, but the injustices present in the insurance sector are a conversation for another day. This situation involves a small farmer with a small farm who will now be out of pocket through no fault of his own. This is not a large farm operation that has funds to rebuild, restore and return to working order. This will be a significant cost and, right now, there is no support, as I said. The damage suffered during the snowstorm has worsened since the recent Storm Éowyn.

In numerous cases across north Cork, people are being left without the supports they need to rebuild their livelihoods. I am not calling for supports for industry that has the means to sustain itself and weather these storms, but it is vital for the rural economy and for agriculture that smaller farmers and farms like these receive some supports from the State, otherwise people like that small farmer who contacted my office in Mallow face losing all of their assets. The relevant Departments must offer a scheme to support small farmers and the rural economy immediately. I noted this morning that the parliamentary question I asked the Minister has not been responded to in a way that I and the small farmer who contacted my office would appreciate. I ask the Minister to revisit that, look at it and see whether or not the opportunity can be made available for people like the small farmer and small business owner, where insurance does not cover damage caused.

In addition to this, there must be a ramped-up effort to expand the humanitarian relief funds to address the significant damage to our roads during the recent storms. I highlight the N72, the main Mallow to Killarney road. This road has been in a dire state for the past four years and, since the beginning of January, it has deteriorated at an alarming rate. This road is one of the busiest national secondary roads in the country, with daily usage by hundreds of private cars in the community for work and school, as well as heavy industrial use for haulage, logistics, construction and agriculture. We have numerous neighbours and people in communities in Cullen, Knocknagree, Dernagree, Kanturk, Newmarket, Banteer and Bóthar Buí who have faced safety issues and car damage due to the road's condition. The road is frequently used by tourists travelling to Killarney. I was there myself at the weekend. The road poses a serious hazard for anybody who is not familiar with the road.

Prior to the winter and recent storms, the portion of the road between Clonbanin Cross and the Lislehane area was the worst-affected area of the road. The Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, sitting next to the Minister, Deputy Calleary, would be able to tell him that. This is nearly an 8 km stretch. Now, the condition of the road, beginning around the Ballyclogh turn-off and Lombardstown cross area, as far as Rathmore on the County Kerry border, is terrible and frankly unsafe. That represents nearly 30 km of roads. We are aware that funding for a small portion of this road had been granted at the end of 2024, but meaningful work on the road has yet to transpire. Additional funding must now be made available to repair the road to a safe and sufficient standard. That is the least that motorists across this country deserve. Last year, locals in the area held a demonstration on the road, calling for repairs and resurfacing. It is shameful. Now, after nearly five years of this carry-on, the road is getting worse and worse. I call on the Minister to act on this.

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