Dáil debates

Wednesday, 9 December 2015

12:00 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The impact of the flooding continues to be devastating for many households, farmers and communities across the countries and there have been many complaints about a basic lack of preparedness for events of this kind. It is fair to say that storms and floods of this ferocity are happening with greater frequency and we need to prepare better as a country for such events. We need to respond better and to accelerate urgently, in particular, the installation of flood relief protection schemes across the country. In short, we need a comprehensive, co-ordinated and sustainable response and there have been many complaints across the country that it is not there. Bandon and Ballinasloe, in particular, stand out. Ballinasloe was told that the 2009 flood was a once in 100 year event and they now know that is not the case. We learned yesterday that the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, sought a 15-strong expert long-range flood warning unit within Met Éireann at a cost of €2.5 million but the obvious question is, "Why not 12 months or two years ago"? The Taoiseach himself stated in 2012 that such a unit was needed and clearly it was not done.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The Taoiseach should up his game.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The biggest issue where we really need a game-changer in terms of policy change is in insurance cover for flood risk areas. It is a key issue for businesses, homes and farmers. This is the fourth time since 2009 that flooding of this nature has occurred and many are no longer insured or cannot get any insurance.

In 2013, the United Kingdom Government, along with the insurance sector, agreed to develop a not-for-profit scheme, Flood Re, to allow flood insurance to remain widely affordable and available while allowing a sustainable transition to risk-reflective pricing over 25 years.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question, please.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That was followed up by the Water Act 2014 which put legislative flesh on that bone. The UK Government's preferred option was to ensure the continued availability of flood insurance to households at risk of flooding across the United Kingdom, and it responded in kind. The fundamental question is if this Government has had any engagement with the insurance sector on such a scheme and if it will now commit to replicating the UK Government's approach to insurance in flood areas which would reflect the proactive, co-ordinated and comprehensive response that I mentioned earlier.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Clearly, the impact of a flood in any household or business is devastating. As everybody will be aware, it ruins property and destroys people's care and attention and pride for their houses and businesses. That goes without saying.

The situation has brought about an enormous community response. For its part, the national co-ordination committee has been meeting for the past number of weeks. The warning was relayed in good time in this case and there had been a co-ordination of community, Civil Defence, Garda, local authorities, Office of Public Works and others, and now the Red Cross, visible all over the country in terms of the assistance that is being given.

The latest is that the Defence Forces have responded to all requests received from the principal response agencies. That has involved a deployment to eight counties comprising over 200 Army personnel, 34 vehicles and an Air Corps helicopter. The Minister of State, Deputy Harris, is available to speak about the issues of the past, the immediate response and the projections for the future in terms of schemes under construction, schemes under design and the timescales envisaged in all of these. The Minister of State goes to Bandon next week. I expect he will bring the Red Cross personnel with him-----

Photo of Noel GrealishNoel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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He should go to Galway as well.

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----have a meeting with the business people in Bandon-----

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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We should come to Kerry as well.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----and talk about the issues there. Obviously, as Deputy Martin will be aware, there were legal objections to the tendering process. Those are now cleared and the funding is in place for that scheme to go ahead in 2016, and I expect that to be adhered to. I expect the Minister of State to travel to other locations, including Galway and Crossmolina, the week after to bring the projected designs for what is envisaged there, meet the people and discuss what can happen now and for the medium term.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Taoiseach.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Government yesterday made a decision to put €5 million upfront in respect of the business premises that are flooded and within the context of the Office of Public Works flood areas. The Department of Defence is co-ordinating this with the Red Cross. That is actually happening today and I hope that there will be a structure in place that will allow-----

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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We would want detailed planning.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----for prompt payments to be made here based on assessments of the damage. Clearly, with the Shannon continuing to rise, and other difficulties for bridges, roads, etc., there are issues that cannot be assessed until it clears.

Finally, I am aware of the situation in Britain. Flood Re is a not-for-profit operation. It has been focused on by the British Government for quite some time. I am not sure-----

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am sorry, we are over time.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----whether it is as successful as people might have imagined but it is something that we would like to look at here. Business people who had insurance or who did not have insurance, even behind flood defences where they are working in Clonmel, Mallow or Fermoy, still cannot get insurance, and obviously that is an issue. That is why in this case we would like €5 million to be made available for businesses that have been flooded and have had this brought to them shortly before Christmas.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I mean no disrespect, but the Taoiseach's reply confirms my basic point about the lack of preparation, urgency and any co-ordinated and comprehensive response. The centrepiece of my question was an insurance scheme similar to that introduced by the United Kingdom with the British insurance sector which would provide long-term sustainable insurance cover for households, families and businesses in flood risk areas. Despite the fact that we have had increasing storms of greater severity than we have ever had previously more regularly, all the Taoiseach can say now is that he would like to look at it. I asked if the Taoiseach had engaged with the insurance sector on such a scheme for Ireland and why we have not seen it. The legislation was passed in 2014.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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On the Minister of State's watch.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is the Bill.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Would Deputy Martin put his question, please?

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is the legislation. The point is the British Government went at this much earlier than anything we have seen from this Government.

It is too late to go to Bandon next week. The Minister will be welcome, of course.

12:10 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is a disgraceful statement.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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In the meantime, could you put your question?

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My point is that the flooding has happened. It is disgraceful that the flood relief scheme was not in place. The problem is-----

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not the problem, it is your question.

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is playing politics with a national emergency. Does he want us to be like Bertie Ahern with his wellies?

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Harris's remarks are facetious. The people who were flooded feel that had the flood relief scheme been put in place two years ago, they would not have experienced what they experienced last week. While we can quote the legal issues, there was a lack of urgency about getting it in place.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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There was a lack of urgency ten years ago.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The other schemes were done before the Government's time. Is the Taoiseach committed to working through the flood insurance and a scheme similar to that in the UK? Does he accept that legislation must be enacted regarding it? It is a good idea and makes sense in the long term.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Put on your wellies and get down there.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes, the Government remains committed to dealing with it in the short, medium and longer term.

Photo of Peter MathewsPeter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent)
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The very long term.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As Deputy Martin is well aware, the Government has allocated €1 billion over the next ten years to flood relief works in 300 locations throughout the country.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is to spend less next year.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is not expecting me to say the Government should have gone ahead and put the flood works into the Bandon despite the fact that there was a legal objection going through the courts system. Even the Deputy knows this well. It was a disgraceful comment for the Deputy to say the business people and householders should not be visited by the Minister with responsibility for the OPW.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not say that at all.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes, the Deputy did. He said there was no point.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I said it was too late. The Taoiseach has a habit of making up stories. It is another made-up story, a bit like the army and the ATM machines.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It is a bit like Santa Claus. We will have it on St. Patrick's Day.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is unfair. The Taoiseach should stop acting like a sleeveen. It is too serious for that.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Martin is playing politics with it for notice. A red card for it.

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Communities in various parts of the State have been devastated in the wake of Storm Desmond with extensive flooding to homes and businesses. Earlier this morning, I read yesterday's transcript, which showed that 17 Government and Opposition Deputies from across the State raised the concerns of their communities in counties Westmeath, Roscommon, Cork, Kerry, Laois, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Donegal. With respect, the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, will have to visit more than just Bandon. There are many counties and communities to be visited during the coming weeks. Despite the increased risk and frequency of flooding in recent years, the Government is not taking it seriously. In the 2016 budget, the Government cut the OPW's risk management programme by 25%, or €15.6 million. Although the Government's PR machine has been out talking about €15 million in flood relief, €10 million of it was already there. Only €5 million is new money, although the Government has cut €15.6 million from the programme for this year.

We have asked the Taoiseach several times whether the Government would introduce a special State-funded package for householders and businesses in areas of high flood risk but who, through no fault of their own, cannot obtain insurance. Will he address it? The Taoiseach avoided answering Deputy Martin's question on it. Will the Taoiseach examine the issue of the OPW's risk management programme and put resources into it again? Will he ensure it has the resources and energy to fast-track the programmes? It has been there since 2011, almost five years. Will the Taoiseach send a message to the communities in the west about the Government's plan regarding insurance and addressing the cutbacks in next year's budget?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not know where the Deputy has been since this happened or who has been briefing him. He should be aware that the Government is providing €430 million for flood risk over the next six years. There are flood relief works under construction and at design stage. The Deputy understands that major flood relief schemes must go through a planning process and take many factors into account, including hydrological surveys. We cannot just move in with our bulldozers and announce what we are going to do. The humanitarian scheme that has existed since 2012 has €10 million allocated to it and the community welfare officers on the ground are entitled to go to the affected houses and discuss with the people whether their houses are habitable or whether they have to move out, and provide the basic cash for items such as beds, clothes and fridges. This is available now and is happening today as we speak. The Department of Defence is co-ordinating the response strategy to put a structure in place with the Red Cross in order that effective payments can be made to small businesses that have been flooded and their Christmas destroyed by the force of nature. Deputy Martin seems to think we can deal with this as it happens.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is the opposite.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The reason the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, was talking about flood warning systems is that we do not have one and rely instead on European statistics. Other countries can define ten to 15 minutes in advance what is going to happen. We need this.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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We have local knowledge.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Tell the Minister to put on his wellies and get down there.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In 2014, the memorandum of understanding was signed between the OPW and the insurance companies so the sharing of information about flood warnings and the impact of it can be factored into the commercial decisions to be made by the insurance industry. It is not as simple as the companies saying they will provide insurance regardless of whether a premises has flood defences. Many other issues must be dealt with. As the Deputy knows, even when the flood relief works are in place, in some cases the water meets a high tide, backs up through the shores and goes behind the walls and up through the houses. These are physical and geographical limitations and challenges as to what must be done. In Mallow, Clonmel, Ennis and Fermoy the defences have worked well. A capital programme has been laid out for the next ten years and €1 billion is allocated to it, with €430 million over the next six years. The list is there, if the Deputy cares to read it. Reliefs are under construction and at design stage. I object to Deputy Martin saying it is not worthwhile for the Minister of State responsible to go the areas and meet the people affected. The Minister of State, Deputy Harris, will do it.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not say it. I said he was welcome. The Taoiseach is telling lies.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Time was when we could not get a Minister from that outfit over there to go anywhere, when they were firing money at every single problem. For Westmeath, Athlone, Ballinasloe, Donegal, Castlefin, Crossmolina and all the other places, the Minister of State will deal with as many as he can.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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He will come after the event. That is the problem. He goes every five years.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What is important is to have a structure that is effective, for the Government to put money in place and let us see how effectively we can make payments before Christmas.

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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As I said, yesterday 17 Government and Opposition Deputies spoke. Nobody has a monopoly of concern about this issue that affects communities across the west. The Deputies pointed out practical issues regarding the maintenance and cleaning of rivers and issues around CFRAM's flood risk management. The Taoiseach is very familiar with County Donegal. While Deputies spoke about flooding for the second time in six years, people in the Finn Valley area, south Donegal and west Donegal had flooding for the second time in weeks. Businesses, community centres and homes that had cleared out the damage from the previous flood a few weeks ago, in very traumatic circumstances, were back at it again. They thought they might have had amelioration measures in place. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. While all of us in the Houses are concerned, unfortunately, what we are doing is not working.

Will the Taoiseach address in a real, tangible way the issue of homes that cannot get insurance? Will he ensure there are resources around flood risk assessment plans to reassure businesses and communities that the resources will be fast-tracked to the OPW? Excellent issues, such as the maintenance of rivers, were raised. The Taoiseach should read through the transcripts of the contributions by all Deputies yesterday, Government and Opposition. They are at the front line speaking to the heroic people who worked in our emergency services, Defence Forces, local authorities and communities and got the proposals to put to the Taoiseach. I know the Minister of State will read the transcripts and take on board the issues that were raised.

Can we send a collective message to those citizens from these Houses that such issues will be addressed as best we can within our powers?

12:20 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". That is what is happening at the moment. As I have said, there is a memorandum of understanding between the OPW and the insurance companies. They meet as needs be. Information is shared so that it can be factored into the commercial decisions being made by insurance companies. As new houses built after 2009 and small businesses are excluded from the British system, I do not think such a model would be suitable for this country. This issue needs to be looked at. I agree that minor works can be carried out by local authorities. I assure Deputy Mac Lochlainn - I have experience of this - that when one interferes with a river or lake system where fishing interests are involved, one finds it is not that easy to have dams removed or bushes and trees cut. The Deputy's council and the councils of the 17 Deputies he mentioned are entitled to apply to the OPW today for grants of up to €500,000 for minor relief works that can be carried out without any great difficulty.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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They did, but they were refused.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That work is under way in many cases. The answer to Deputy Mac Lochlainn's question is "Yes". The Government has responded with the €10 million in humanitarian relief for private householders that has been available for a number of years, but has not been drawn down. Some €5 million was announced yesterday. Issues are being worked on to ensure this can be dealt with effectively before Christmas. The question of minor relief works as a co-ordinated response with the local authorities is there now. The Red Cross will visit Bandon with the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, next week. They will have a business meeting with those affected to discuss how they can help. That will be followed by similar initiatives in Ballinasloe, Galway and Crossmolina, etc. The Government, like everybody else, has a genuine interest in dealing with this. However, it is not possible to deal with all the flood relief works overnight.

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The Government did not come into office overnight.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is a real process to be followed here.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The rivers need to be cleaned.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We need to get it right. In Carlisle in Cumbria, some £38 million was spent on flood relief defences, but 50,000 people have been flooded.

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Get the farmers to clean the rivers.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We have to get this right.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Those who have repeatedly raised the shambles that is the health service in this House over the years have been treated by contempt by this Government, which has come up with excuse after excuse for why nothing seems to change. The situation in the mental health services has gone largely unmentioned. This is particularly true of mental health services for older people. Last Friday, the people of County Donegal learned that mental health services for older people in the county have been closed since 7 September last. We heard nothing about this from the HSE or the Government for three months. It was only when I was contacted by concerned family members who were having difficulty accessing services and clinics that we discovered what has happened. We learned that the clinical director of the service sent a letter to all GPs and senior HSE staff in the county in which he stated:

All referrals received by the Mental Health Service for Older People will be returned to sender. A liaison service to Letterkenny General Hospital can no longer be provided... Care of the Elderly Services in Donegal are [now] the sole providers for all needs of the elderly population.

This letter was sent because, in the words of the clinical director, "without urgent contingency planning, the Donegal Mental Health Service can no longer provide a consultant-led, safe service for the elderly population of Donegal".

I remind the Taoiseach that 78% of over 50s with depression are undiagnosed. A further 85% of people over the age of 50 who suffer from anxiety are also undiagnosed. Signs of depression in elderly people can also be symptoms of the early onset of dementia. If no service is available for older people, many cases could go undiagnosed, which might impose extra costs on the health services. As he comes from rural Ireland, the Taoiseach will be aware that many elderly people are suffering from isolation and loneliness, which can lead to increased anxiety and depression. How can they get help when services have been shut down? Mental health services have lost over 1,000 staff since 2008. In January of this year, staffing levels were just 77% of those recommended in A Vision for Change. What does the Taoiseach intend to do to restore mental health services for older people in County Donegal? When can we expect to see a consultant-led mental health service, which the Government has said is a priority? Does the Taoiseach think it is acceptable that GPs should be left to deal on their own with patients who present with mental health problems?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. If proper services are to be provided to people right across the board, an economic engine is needed to drive that. For that reason, the Government has deliberately focused on sorting out the public finances and creating jobs that pay well.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Government is at it a long time now.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Stay quiet, will you? It is not your question.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The more people we have working, the less tax people have to pay and the greater the opportunity to invest in services like those mentioned by Deputy Pringle. The 2016 Vote for the Department of Health is €13.165 billion, which represents an increase of €880 million on the 2015 allocation. Deputy Pringle will be aware that the HSE is required to prepare a service plan setting out how it expects to provide health services to people. It is then required to send that plan to the Minister for Health, who has 21 days to respond to the HSE's proposals. Obviously, there are challenges in the health system. That has always been the case. The service plan was submitted to the Minister for Health on 4 December last. The Minister and the Department will assess the HSE plan. The Minister has 21 days to return it with his recommendations for what should happen. The total level of funding available to the HSE for 2016 is just over €13 billion. The priorities within that will be identified by the HSE and confirmed by the Minister, before being sent back to the HSE for implementation. The scope for vast improvements in 2016 is not there. There is scope for modest improvement. A number of service improvements are planned, including the implementation of the national maternity service.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The Deputy asked about mental health. Where are the answers?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Additional funding for mental health is being handled by the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is doing a wonderful job in this area. Further developments in primary care include enhanced therapeutic services for young people. I take Deputy Pringle's point about older people with dementia problems in County Donegal. It is the same thing all over the country. They all deserve a better service. If we are to provide the best service we can give them, we need an economic engine to create the necessary investment. For that reason, the Government intends to continue to focus on well-paid jobs. The more people we have working, the less tax they will pay and the better these services can be. The Minister will return the programme, with his proposals, to the HSE for implementation. One of his priorities is the enhancement of services in the mental health area.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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We have been hearing about the so-called "engine" in the economy for the last couple of years, as the Taoiseach has spoken about the so-called recovery, but that engine has not spluttered into life for anybody outside the Pale.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Not in Kerry anyway.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Pringle does not need your help, thanks very much. He is well capable of handling himself.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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The Taoiseach has suggested that extra funding is being provided for the health service, but I remind the House that the budget for the health service is still €1.5 billion less than it was before the economic crash. The services are not being provided. The Government has focused on improving the lot of the wealthy, for example, by giving them tax breaks, rather than looking after citizens who are crying out in need of services. The Taoiseach's answer is not good enough for the people of Donegal, particularly the elderly, who do not have a service to go to. When they attend GPs to look for help, the letters and referrals sent by those GPs are being "returned to sender", in the words of the director of mental health services in the county. This issue needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Staff need to be provided to allow this service to be restored and helped to get up and running again. It is not enough to say the service plans have to reviewed and sent back again by the Minister for Health. The Government has to act to ensure services are there for the people who need them.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Pringle comes in here on a regular basis with a clear philosophy of "pay for nothing and provide everything".

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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No. It is obvious that the Taoiseach has not listened to anything I have said.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am sure the Deputy realises that there is nothing for nothing in this life. The situation that applied when this Government took over was a catastrophic mess.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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It had the figures.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Things have improved because the people have rallied to that challenge. Deputy Pringle seems to think the property and water charges can be abolished.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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What would happen if the mental health services in Mayo closed?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He thinks all of these services can be provided without people having to pay for anything.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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What would the Taoiseach say?

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Some €90 million was provided for consultants.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I assume he appreciates that the economy is about people and not about statistics.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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I am talking about people.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I want services to be available to the people of Donegal and every other county.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Deputy Pringle is talking about some of the most vulnerable people in the country.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am not just talking about the provision of services for older people with dementia. I am talking about the provision of services to every person.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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It is a blunderbuss, scattergun approach.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Stay quiet.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is why we want to move towards the abolition of the double-tier system, which has been inequitable.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has abandoned that move.

12:30 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I know that the community and voluntary services that deal with people with dementia around the country do a wonderful job and provide great comfort and consolation to families afflicted by dementia. The law states that when the HSE submits its report to the Minister, the Minister has 21 days to return it to the HSE. An increase of €880 million has been allocated to the Department of Health Vote and I confirm that one of the areas in which we expect a modest improvement in the level of services is mental health. The Minister will examine the HSE proposals, make his recommendations and return them to the HSE for implementation. I hope the modest improvement to which I referred will have an impact in the homes of Donegal and every other location where it is required around the country.