Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this issue. This month marks the third anniversary of householders in County Galway having their homes devastated by flooding. They have been left in limbo for three years. As they face into their fourth year without homes, they need a speedy conclusion to be brought to the flooding relocation scheme so they can move on with their lives.

A total of 32 families from all across the country applied for the flood relocation programme, including a dozen from County Galway. Of the 32, 20 applications have been deemed successful, yet they are still facing into their fourth year without homes. The severe flooding's impact on them has been significant, with the loss of a much-cherished home and many personal belongings such as photographs and other treasured mementos, the price of which cannot be measured. However, their loss has been compounded by the failure of successive Governments to bring the matter to a conclusion.

Once the rising flood waters receded, a number of families across south County Galway in places such as Gort and Ardrahan, as well as in Skehana in north Galway, were left picking up the pieces, both literally and metaphorically, of their lives. I have met these families and have seen the devastating impact this event has had and, unfortunately, continues to have on them. Due to the lack of a resolution in terms of relocation, they have not had anywhere they can call home in the intervening years.

They had enjoyed a secure home where they could plan for the future, but the flooding episode of late 2009 changed all of that. Many found themselves living in rented accommodation for the first time in their lives, unable to plan for the future as they awaited the outcome of the flooding relocation scheme. The application process was particularly long and tortuous and many believed that, once they were accepted onto the scheme, their difficulties would be over. This has since proven not to be the case. The months drag on and, instead of achieving clarity, it appears to become more difficult to get answers.

I have raised this issue with the Minister for Social Protection numerous times, highlighting the south Galway families' need for closure. Having met them, one can see the toll it is taking on each family member. This matter has reached a critical point. They cannot continue into a fourth year in this uncertain atmosphere. Answers are required.

I had just been elected as a councillor when the flooding occurred. At that time, I believed it to be unacceptable that those people should be left in a legal limbo regarding their relocation. Three years on and facing the prospect of a fourth without a home, the time for action is well past. Lives have been suspended and these families have been left waiting for the former and current Governments to resolve the issue. The compensation scheme was announced six months ago. Since then, however, progress appears to have slowed even further, with no deadlines, no news for families and no information from the Department. This situation is unacceptable and must be resolved.

Each family is in a different situation and each case must be dealt with on its individual merits, but even dealing with them on a case-by-case basis should have seen them resolved many years ago. These families need a date by which this saga will be brought to an end. They need homes, somewhere to call their own where they can start to plan for the future again and leave the dreadful events of November 2009 behind them.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, who conveys her apologies to the Deputy for being unable to take the debate herself.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works, OPW, has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events, such as flooding.

When the spending of the various Departments and agencies is added together, there is combined Government spending of more than €21 million arising from the floods of November 2009. The Department of Social Protection will spend in excess of €5 million, with a further €16.4 million spent by the local authorities and more than €500,000 spent by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

In the immediate aftermath of the flooding, departmental officials provided support through the exceptional and urgent needs payment scheme, primarily in respect of needs such as clothing, food, bedding and emergency accommodation. In addition, a humanitarian aid scheme was approved by the Government and an allocation of €10 million was provided. Financial support was provided to more than 1,300 people who suffered damage as a result of the flooding.

In December 2010, the Government also decided to offer support to families that were continuing to experience significant housing problems as a result of the November 2009 flooding and were considering relocating rather than permanently returning to their original homes. An allocation of up to €4 million was provided by the Government to assist up to 20 households towards relocation. The Government's decision provided that relocation offers would be made to householders whose primary residences were deemed by the OPW to be unsustainable and could not be protected from flooding at an economically feasible cost.

To date, the OPW has deemed 19 primary residences, mainly in Galway, as unsustainable and letters inviting householders to formally apply for assistance issued from this Department between November 2011 and May 2012. The Department has since been in contact with the majority of householders providing details of the amounts payable in their particular cases. The Department expects that the legal agreement necessary for the purposes of the scheme will be finalised and issued to householders within the next week or so, which at least is a move in the right direction. The Department of Social Protection can assure the Deputy that there will be no delay in issuing payments once the terms of the legal agreement have been met.

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome that. It is good news to hear it is a week away but I want to make sure it is just a week away. The weather we had today causes much fear among the people whose homes were flooded three years ago. In a week's time, or at most in two week's time, I want to see this resolved. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, visited a number of these people a year ago and much work has been carried out on flood alleviation works around the county. However, for these families, for the likes of Anne Connolly in Gort, the Flatleys in Ardrahan and the Devaneys in Skehana, it is unacceptable that it has taken us three years to get to this point. I would like the message to go back to the Minister and the Department that whatever legal issues need to be sorted out are sorted out in the next seven to 14 days because it is not fair to ask these people to go through another Christmas not being able to plan for their future.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I can understand the concern and frustration of people on this issue. The letters have gone out to the legal people. It is important there is a response from people's legal representatives because issues can get lost in legal offices. The Deputy can be assured that what the Minister has stated will happen. It is important people react in a positive way and that their legal teams respond. There can be delay on both side. Getting due diligence done to formalise legal offers took time but we are ready to go. Let there be a clear message to people very distressed over this issue for that length of time that it will be resolved with immediate effect.