Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending. I wish to raise the issue of support for businesses, in particular, affected by flooding recently and in the past number of years. Unfortunately, Cork was in the headlines last week because of flooding, as it was in June last year and November 2009. Some commentators noted that if Cork city was to be built again, it would not be built where it is now; we are stuck with it nevertheless, and incessant rain over 48 hours seems to be the precursor to this type of flooding.

This issue involves many participants, including the Office of Public Works, the Irish Insurance Federation and the Oireachtas committee dealing with environmental matters, which is holding a series of hearings on the issue. I will focus on possible compensation or support for businesses and raise the matter with the Minister because in July last year he contacted local authorities and asked them to submit details of the type of destruction done to businesses the previous June with a view to establishing some type of compensation fund for businesses. I know not everything can be covered, and in some instances businesses made a conscious decision not to insure premises. At the same time, some businesses cannot get insurance because they are in a flood risk area, meaning that some distinctions and intricacies can be made in the argument.

The Minister initiated correspondence with local authorities, asking them to provide information, so will he inform the House of any report? Will he bring forward proposals in the area?