Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, to the House to give his views on the stress caused to many local residents and businesses in the Clonee, Dunboyne and Mulhuddart areas last weekend, together with its impact on the residents of Drumcondra. The Minister of State will be aware that Dunboyne-Clonee is a fast growing area. Some 7,000 houses will be granted planning permission in the Clonee general area, together with the huge development taking place in Dunboyne. In addition, the proposed county development plan will increase development along the N3.

We have no expert advice on this yet, but the general consensus is that because of all the houses built in the area, there is now an immediate run-off to the Tolka and lands do not have time to drain. Underground drainage systems may have been disturbed as well as various tributaries. I call on the Minister to instigate a programme of action. Three council areas, Meath, Fingal and the city council, are affected by this problem and there is no point in having each council do its own thing. I understand works done by Meath County Council on the Tolka in Clonee village might have contributed to the problem. The basin of the river was essentially corralled into a pipe which led to some of the flooding.

At the weekend many houses in the areas concerned were flooded, distress was caused to families and young children and losses were incurred by local businesses and the local and national economy, as could be seen by looking at the radial routes coming into Dublin, which had been completely blocked by people not able to get to work. Goods and services were not being delivered to businesses. Clonee is an old village, but many new premises have now been established. Approximately 300 people work in the village. I welcome the humanitarian aid being directed to the victims through the Red Cross and ask that it be extended or that some consideration be given to businesses in the area because the heart has been torn out of the village. If there is not a vibrant village, there will be no services for the communities concerned. I ask the Minister to examine this as well as the damage caused to houses and consider an integrated action plan through the three councils.