Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

During the period from 13 December 2014 to 6 January 2014, Ireland was subjected to a series of severe storms, with storms affecting the country roughly once every three days. In addition to the very strong winds, there were periods of extremely heavy rain and a lot of thunderstorm activity. These storms coincided with high spring tides and created severe and damaging conditions in a number of coastal areas.

On 13 January, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government brought an interim report to Cabinet on the storms that was compiled by his Department in its capacity as lead Department for the response to severe weather. All areas of the country were affected by the storms, with damage to buildings, fallen trees and outages of the electricity and communications networks. In the week from 30 December to 6 January, high tides coincided with the storms and, consequently, the west coast was severely impacted, especially counties Clare, Galway, Mayo and Kerry, with coastal damage and damage to the roads infrastructure.

Met Éireann issued a level red severe weather warning for four days over the 24-day period from 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014, warning of severe winds and very high seas. A further 11 days over this period were covered by orange level warnings. As well as featuring in broadcasts to the public, Met Éireann issued these warnings to all local authorities, transport agencies and relevant Departments and agencies. Met Éireann, which is under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, provides strong support for the utilities and emergency response community. Met Éireann's new colour-coded severe weather alert and warning system for the public proved appropriate and effective in raising awareness of the weather conditions for the duration of these weather events.

Response to emergencies, including severe weather events such as storms, are managed at local level by the principal response agencies, namely, the local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the HSE, co-ordinated by the local authorities. These arrangements operate in accordance with the framework for major emergency management adopted by the Government in 2006 and are well embedded in the relevant organisations.

The Government appreciates very much the co-ordinated response of local authority, utility and emergency services personnel who worked, frequently in difficult circumstances, to maintain the safety of those threatened and to restore services to those affected by the severe forces of nature during the holiday period. Disruption was experienced during the storms across the full range of transport services including road, rail, ferries and air transport. The safety of road-users was of primary concern and the Road Safety Authority was very active in issuing advice and warnings to the public. While normal traffic patterns were disrupted with major routes affected by fallen trees, debris and flooding, at different times, the impacts were not as severe as with previous severe weather events.

Rail services were disrupted due to a number of incidents, including the collapse of the roof at Kent station in Cork. At other times services were delayed due to fallen trees and debris being blown onto the lines. In every case Irish Rail put alternative travel arrangements in place to minimise the disruption. Flights using all three State airports were cancelled, diverted or delayed due to the strength and direction of gusting wind. Ferry services were severely curtailed, particularly the Swift ferry services. Disruption over the period was managed effectively by the relevant transport authorities. The Irish Coastguard Service provided safety information to both the maritime industry and the general public about the risks associated with the storms. As a result of increased awareness, incident levels in the recreational sector remained normal compared to other years, notwithstanding the severe weather conditions.

Damage was caused to public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and culverts, piers and harbours, coastal tourism infrastructure and coastal protection facilities. Initial estimates of the order of €65 million for the cost of clean-up, repairs and restoration of public infrastructure were provided to the Government in the interim report. The cost of repairing roads infrastructure is estimated at some €20 million. A total of €35 million is estimated under the general heading of coastal works with €10 million for a range of other costs arising such as tourism infrastructure at beaches. Almost two thirds, €41 million of the total estimate of €65 million arises from two counties Clare, €23 million and Galway, €18 million, reflecting the severe impact of the storms along the west coast. Local co-ordination and delivery of clean-up and restoration works will be led by the local authorities. Works are underway to clean up and make immediate necessary repairs in many areas. At the request of the Government, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has contacted local authorities seeking more detailed reports by 14 February on the envisaged repair works, including related costs. This will enable the relevant Departments and agencies to support the local authorities in undertaking recovery measures.

The Government is exploring all possible sources of funding to meet the costs which have arisen from the storm damage, including contact with the European Union about a possible application under the EU Solidarity Fund programme. This fund was established by the European Union to respond to major natural disasters and to express EU solidarity with disaster-stricken regions in Europe. The fund was created in reaction to the severe floods in Central Europe in the summer of 2002. A major disaster is defined as damage estimated at over €3 billion or 0.6% of GNI. In Ireland's case this would amount to €770 million. The fund provides aid for public emergency operations such as the immediate restoration of infrastructure and plant, the provision of temporary accommodation, the funding of rescue services, the immediate securing of preventative infrastructures and immediate clean-up in disaster-stricken areas. In exceptional circumstances, however, when the damage is below this threshold, an application may be made but only where a region has suffered an extraordinary natural disaster affecting the major part of its population, with serious and lasting repercussions on the living conditions and the economic viability of the region. I emphasise that assistance in such exceptional cases is at the rate of 2.5%. Moreover, while two thirds of applications are made on the basis of exceptional circumstances, most fail. An additional factor is that for the budgetary period 2014 to 2020, the annual budget for the fund has been halved from €1 billion to €500 million and the European Commission has indicated that future grants are likely to be 50% lower than previously. In 2009, Ireland made an application to the fund. On that occasion, however, total damage was estimated at around €520 million. This resulted in a grant of €13 million from the fund. Any Government decision on an application to the fund will be made once the full cost of damage has been assessed.

Private property was affected by these storms. We await information from the insurance industry of the scale of damage to homes and businesses affected. The Department of Social Protection provides immediate support to households affected by emergencies through it exceptional and urgent needs payments systems. These payments cover immediate needs such as clothing, food, bedding and emergency accommodation needs. The Department of Social Protection also has a humanitarian assistance scheme to assist people whose homes are damaged by flooding. This is means-tested and is intended to assist those who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair, as a result of the flooding damage.

Once again these storms illustrate the power of nature and the impact it can have on society. Our co-ordinated response arrangements have developed significantly in recent years and they worked well again on this occasion. As we are now in the recovery phase, we await more detailed information which will underpin the plans for the funding, co-ordination and delivery of the necessary work programmes, with a view to the timely and effective delivery of a programme to assist the communities worst affected by the storms.