Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will keep to the aspect of flood prevention if I may. The two places nearest to me where I have seen huge investment are Fermoy and Mallow. For years people in these areas stated nothing could be done to prevent the flooding there, but lo and behold the engineers and experts have changed the lives of the people. Large amounts were spent and extensive works carried out, but it is good value when it works. Businesses in Mallow could not get an insurance quotation because annual flooding occurred.

With regard to large projects costing a large amount of money, several years ago the manager of Kerry County Council in his wisdom had to carry out extensive coastal protection works at Inch which cost approximately ¤4 million. He secured only ¤3 million of this funding from the Government. I ask the Minister of State to keep in mind that Kerry County Council is seeking an additional ¤1 million for this.

With regard to minor works, extensive flooding occurred at a river near me in the Glenflesk area. Trees which were hanging over the river were cut and this has made a change. People living in a cluster of seven or eight houses in the area could not enter or leave, but due to minor works carried out by the OPW which cut the overhanging trees falling into the river the problem has been alleviated. This year we have had a large amount of rainfall but flooding has not been an issue.

I thank the Minister of State for visiting Rossbeigh in my home patch. I believe from experts that not much can be done about the shifting of sands but there is a major concern about the houses in Incharee for which the Minister of State has allocated funding. Recently I spoke to the engineer in the local authority and he may need a little more money to finish the works. Where the sand dune structure has been undermined the houses have been left wide open to attack by the sea. Additional funding may be required to secure these houses from flooding.

On an ancillary note, of most importance to a planning authority when deciding on a planning application is to protect the skyline, and people often had to build their houses in hollows. Subsequent flooding has occurred and many of these houses have been destroyed. Women, in particular, will tell one that if a house has been flooded it is never the same. Local authorities always seem to worry about protecting the skyline although nobody speaks about building castles on top of a hill. I do not think it was right for people to be made build houses on the lowest part of their land holding and perhaps this should be addressed.

Recently I spoke to an engineer who told me the ground is saturated because of the huge amount of rainfall we have had this year. He stated the Lakes of Killarney are as high as he has ever seen and if we get heavy rainfall over winter we will be highly prone to flooding. There is nothing the Minister of State can do except to be wary. We must hope we do not get such weather during the winter.