Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. It is extraordinary we have two motions on flooding in Cork on the Adjournment. Last weekend in Cork city the first flood of the winter season took place. There was a sense of fear and concern among the residents of the Marsh, the Mardyke and the Middle Parish and among business people that 12 months on from the flooding in 2009, there is still no early warning system and the quay walls at Grenville Place have not been repaired. There is concern there is no early warning system that uses text messaging, e-mail or the postal system. Last year there was terrible flooding and Cork was visited by the Minister of State and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Many of us worked with the residents and there are still people who have not been able to return to their homes.

We all want an improved flood alert system but what measures have been taken by the Government to advance this? People are concerned about the availability of sandbags for residences and businesses. I read the Minister of State's reply to Senator O'Donovan but progress has been slow. There has been a lot of hyperbole and hiding behind reports and studies. We have ruled out the major works scheme in Cork city that would cost nearly €100 million and have agreed to minor flood relief works. If we cannot get the major works, can we at least get those minor works done, particularly the repairs to the quay walls at Grenville Place?

We must invest properly in flood protection measures. The start of that for the residents of the Middle Parish, the Marsh and the Mardyke is to have a flood alert warning system that would allow for a traffic light-style indication of risk. We must reassure residents that works will be carried out, that we will put in place an adequate flood warning system and that what happened to them last year will not happen again.

I hope the Minister of State will be positive in his reply. He has been attentive in the past and has listened to residents in the Middle Parish. We must have more than just listening, however. Money must be invested in order that there is a tangible outcome for residents.