Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Areas right throughout the country were seriously affected. Our area was seriously affected from 4 or 5 January by one of the most unprecedented snow storms. In some parts of Duhallow in north Cork, there was between 16 and 20 inches of snow. I compliment the farming community who really rose to the challenge in terms of putting their machinery at the disposal of the community. There was a massive community effort by everybody to try to clear roads. Many houses were cut off for the bones of a week. There was isolation and fear. They were not just without power, but also without water.

ESB crews have worked in hugely difficult circumstances right through from the end of November to the present day on a number of storms. We have to compliment them and compliment the council staff who worked against the clock. We also have to compliment the Army, who were brought in by Cork County Council to work on it.

We have to look at how will we futureproof ourselves against the challenges that lie ahead. A number of futureproofing measures have to be taken. We have to ensure that all sporting clubs, and all utilities in particular, are wired and fit for the adoption of generators straight away because we need to have backup generators in every community. The advice is that these storms will be more frequent and we have to futureproof ourselves. It is hugely important that we take massive lessons from what has been a bruising experience for the vast majority of citizens of this country over the last six or seven weeks.

Some roads have been left in an appalling condition, particularly after the snowstorms. I know the local authorities are working desperately hard to try to repair the roads and on drainage and so forth, but I draw the House's particular concern to the road from Clonbanin to Cullen. Funding was allocated in the latter half of 2024 and contractors have been on site, but because of the amount of snow that fell and the condition of the road, it is in an absolutely dire strait. I understand that contractors are on site at the moment but we need to upgrade that road. The money that has already been committed to it needs to be spent on it because this has been one of the most challenging roads in our area during the last period.

While we pay enormous tribute to all of the people and the communities that came together to help and reach out to their neighbours, and we have to compliment ourselves on the meitheal ideal of supporting each other, we have to put a protocol in place from the Government side to ensure that when these events happen, there is a certain protocol that happens involving local authorities and Government and State agencies and everybody is called to put their shoulder to the wheel immediately when these weather events hit.

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