Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the 175 years since the event to which I referred, there have been infrequent storm events in Ireland. If we allow climate change to continue unchecked in the coming decades, extreme weather events will become more common. Extremes of heat and cold such as we experienced in 2010 and 2011 will be much more frequent, summers will be hotter and drier, winters will be warmer and wetter and there will be a risk of more frequent and widespread flooding. There is consensus in the climate science community - climate sceptics have more or less gone by the board - that climate change has caused serious changes in weather patterns and conditions across the globe, and Ireland is no exception. The Government is conscious of the matter and we have brought forward a climate change Bill. The matter has been debated by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht and a report has been prepared. The publication of the Bill is imminent. The committee carried out a lot of work on the legislation and made recommendations that will be taken into consideration.

Yesterday the European Commission announced the renewable energy targets for Ireland and non-binding targets for energy efficiency. I was disappointed with the Commission's report and the White Paper. We must keep an eye on the matter.

The Minister of State mentioned the role played by Met Éireann and I compliment the organisation on its work. Obviously it would be great to have an eye in the sky that could forecast the weather two months in advance.

Coastal protection and tackling coastal erosion is being considered by the Government. We must ensure action is taken to tackle climate change.

The OPW and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government have policies in place to assist victims of storm and flood damage. I know the Government's inter-agency emergency response group met two weeks ago to co-ordinate responses to the storms. I compliment the local authorities, the ESB and emergency response units that responded and went out during stormy weather. Local authorities have estimated that the damage in Galway and Clare cost €41 million or almost two thirds of the total estimate. The cost and method of repair is the first question that people ask. Last week the Minister clarified that the initial estimates made by his Department that cover the cost of the clean-up, repair and restoration of public infrastructure are in the order of €65 million. He also confirmed that the cost of repairing the road infrastructure is estimated to reach €20 million, with €35 million for coastal work and €10 million for a range of other costs.

The local co-ordination of the clean-up is being led by the local authorities and funding has been allocated by the Office of Public Works. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, is responsible for the assessment, through the OPW, of many of the individual cases of damage. The OPW is responsible for funding large and small-scale flood defences. Demands for money to repair the damage are being submitted from all parts of the country. The sum involved is €250 million over a five year period. I know that one wall beside the Connemara Golf Club is down. It existed for years but has been destroyed. I have also seen houses flooded this time that were not flooded since the 1800s. Flood defences are another issue to examine.

The Minister of State, Deputy Costello, mentioned the EU Solidarity Fund that amounts to €500 million. I hope Ireland will qualify for some of the fund because people have suffered hardship as a result of the weather conditions.

Insurance is also an issue. Some people do not have insurance and it is a big issue for them. People have attended the environment committee to discuss the matter. Some people cannot get insurance. The OPW has done some work to co-ordinate assistance.

Even people who have put in place flood defences are being refused insurance cover. I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, is continuing his good work on this matter. It is hoped that the Department of Social Protection will look favourably on the requests for assistance from those whose homes have been flooded and have no insurance cover.