Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht deis a thabhairt dom an ábhar seo a ardú sa Teach. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Mansergh. In welcoming the publication of the catchment flood risk assessment and management study — the CFRAM study — I have to say I accept that the Minister of State has shown an interest and involvement in this matter since the floods in Cork last year. I appreciate that the CFRAM study is still at the public consultation stage. The Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government had a positive experience when it visited Cork last Friday. The members of the committee spoke to residents of the Middle Parish, travelled to parts of north and west Cork and met the city and county managers. The contents of the report are interesting, as are the matters to which the Government and its intermediaries have refused to commit. It is clear that a scheme needs to be put in place to protect Cork city from flooding. We need an early flood warning system. We also need joined-up thinking between the city and county councils, the ESB and the other relevant authorities.

The Minister of State is aware that Cork is prone to tidal and fluvial flooding. That is also alluded to in the report. Cork needs a flood defence system to be put in place. I am disappointed that the Government seems to have ruled out investing in the proposed €100 million flood defence system in favour of a smaller scale version of the system. I do not get any satisfaction from saying the Government has been reluctant to commit to the investment of the €100 million needed. When the Taoiseach addressed the chamber of commerce dinner in Cork last Friday night, he spoke about the flooding in a roundabout fashion. He referred to the Government commitment to provide funding. It is critical and imperative that we invest properly in the long-term defence of Cork city. Having met flood victims, the Minister of State is familiar with the stories they tell. When we met the residents last Friday, they said their nightmares continued to wake them up at 4 a.m. They panic and get upset when rain is forecast, or when it is announced on radio that Cork is likely to experience flooding. They get flashbacks of their memories. Many residents have not yet returned to their homes. I hope the Minister of State will agree that €100 million is very small change in that context.

The CFRAM study suggests the ESB should have a greater role in water management, etc. As far as public representatives and local residents are concerned, the ESB has not yet answered questions posed legitimately. Although its representatives have been very amenable in meeting residents, members of the joint committee and other public representatives, they have refused to answer direct questions. When will they answer these questions in an up-front manner? While I welcome the sections of the report dealing with the management of water, I have serious questions about the role of the ESB in that regard. It is time for an independent water authority to be established. Proper funding is needed if the 15-year strategy mentioned in the CFRAM study is to be implemented. If that does not happen, the people and the city of Cork will be abandoned. In the light of the realities of global warming and climate change, this ongoing issue will not recede — no pun intended. We need to receive a firm commitment in this respect.

I would like to ask a question of the Minister of State who is a very fair-minded person. What damage will have to be caused in the future before we realise the short-term sticking plaster approach to minimising flooding does not work? This minor approach was described by Eoin English of the Irish Examiner as a "smaller scale two-pronged approach". I am not an expert, but I listened to a presentation made last week to the joint committee by Mr. Paudie Barry who is an expert. We need to put things in perspective. Savage bills were incurred in Cork and elsewhere as a result of last year's flooding. I have read the report on the CFRAM study which is a pilot programme. I will make submissions at the end of the process of consultation. It should be a priority of the Government to give the people of Cork a commitment that contains the right answer. When the Minister of State spoke in City Hall, he referred to the need for work to be done to protect the city of Cork and said the ESB should have greater flexibility to reduce water levels in the Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid reservoirs. While I welcome this worthwhile plan, it must be bolstered by a commitment to provide funding for its implementation. I spoke to the city and county managers about this matter last week and will come back to it in a future Adjournment debate. The bottom line is that we do not need a sticking plaster approach — we need Cork's flood defences to be completely remodelled. When the CFRAM report is being implemented, we should adopt the bigger model which requires a commitment of €100 million.