John Gilroy (Labour)

I add my voice to the calls that all the resources of the State be made available to deal with the flooding, particularly in Cork. I listened to the Cork county manager on "Morning Ireland" this morning who attributed the flooding to 50 mm of rain falling in four or five hours, which is the equivalent of about two months' rain and it overwhelmed the anti-flood measures put in place. I call on the Minister to consider making emergency funding available to businesses and home owners who have been unable to acquire insurance due to previous flooding. I ask him to support businesses who are already hard pressed in the economic climate and consider a rates holiday for those most badly affected by flooding.