Francis O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, as Members debate this important subject, namely, statements on flooding. I agree with the comments of all previous speakers. The farming community has been mentioned and one should consider the amount of rainfall experienced over the past year, as well as the highly unfortunate bad weather this spring and in the early summer involving much rainfall. Farmers already were suffering depression over the bad weather and depressed prices. The major flood disaster that struck in the past week has put many farmers under extreme pressure. Many cattle were housed but even some houses in County Monaghan were flooded. The same is probably true of other parts of the country. Slatted sheds were also flooded in low lying areas of County Monaghan and cattle had to be removed to sheds on higher ground. I am sure this also happened in County Galway and many other parts of the country. Farmers are suffering severely as a result of the flooding.

County councils will have a major problem in the months and years ahead with the roads as a result of the flooding. In some parts of County Monaghan rivers have burst their banks and washed some of the minor roads away. Monaghan town did not feature in the news reports but one of the main roadways there was flooded. I was not aware of any houses being flooded or any serious damage such as there was in other parts of the country. Nevertheless, many roads were flooded and car engines blew up when people drove into the floods. Insurance companies and county councils will face significant bills.

Many houses in counties Galway, Cork, Tipperary and Westmeath were damaged and people's livelihoods taken away. My heart goes out to all those whose homes, shops or goods suffered serious damage. That is very sad.

I compliment the Taoiseach and the Government on putting in place €10 million for immediate relief measures. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, to convey to the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the need for more funding when this €10 million is spent. This is an emergency fund the Taoiseach and the Government have put in place to provide immediate relief for those who most need it. I compliment the Government on doing this as swiftly as it did. There is no doubt the Minister of State will convey to the Government the need for more funding when this is spent. The €10 million may be adequate today but it will not be in two or three weeks' time. I am sure the Government will make more funds available when that money is spent.

The goodwill of neighbours and communities who have come together has been wonderful. It is great to see this in a crisis. I do not wish to repeat myself but the roads will need to be addressed, as they will deteriorate drastically as a result of the wet weather. The floods have torn away some of them, as I have seen in parts of counties Monaghan and Cavan. I am sure other Senators have had similar experiences. I refer to main roads where houses are blocked in by flood waters. There are three or four families in my area who cannot get out of their houses unless they cross fields to high ground. I spoke to the engineer in Monaghan County Council today about this issue. Some funds will have to be made available to raise the roads in these areas. I know houses in County Galway, the Minister of State's home area, and across the country were blocked in. It is frightening for people to be locked into their homes.

I have no doubt the Minister of State will convey the views of this Chamber to the Government.