Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I agree with my good friend, Senator Byrne, particularly his comments on planning and what our predecessors across the political divide have done in zoning land on flood plains. They contributed significantly to the cynicism that people have about politics.

It is heartbreaking to see the flooding of houses that unfortunate people had purchased on known flood plains. This occurs because previous Governments and councillors during the years were not brave enough and lacked the conviction to refuse planning permission for such developments. In significant cases councillors overruled recommendations made by An Bord Pleanála that these areas not be zoned for housing. Similarly, people in coastal areas were granted planning permission to build houses too close to the sea, often following representations made by politicians. In many of these cases planning permission was granted in the face of opposition by planners. That is the negative side.

Since assuming office, the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, has engaged positively with communities. He has a deep understanding of the effects flooding has on people's lives and shown great empathy for those he has met whose homes, businesses or farms have been flooded. We are moving into what I would describe as a proactive phase. Until recently, we reacted to flooding and dealt with its consequences. The mapping project in which the Minister of State and his officials are engaged is a proactive one. Let us identify zones where there are problems and implement a programme to address them. We should identify the areas at the greatest risk of flooding, start to address these problems and work our way down the list.

We all remember the scenes broadcast on television on 3 January and 1 February depicting the destruction of many homes along the coast and the erosion by the sea of significant portions of the coastline. As the Minister of State noted, this was an event that only occurs once in a number of generations. It focused the minds of the Government, the media and citizens on the need to implement a long-term solution.

We are an island nation surrounded by water and, as such, must invest in coastal protection works. Our European colleagues will understand the need for an island nation on the periphery of Europe to invest in coastal protection works. The Minister of State's mapping project, once complete, will equip the Government to make a case to the European Union for additional funding. The funding available in the future will probably fall significantly short of what is needed to successfully implement a comprehensive programme. For this reason, we will need to develop a partnership on the issue with our European colleagues.

I thank the Minister of State for providing funding for a feasibility study in the Clonahinchy area where a number of homes were flooded on 3 January and 1 February and his commitment to follow up on the study's recommendations. He will be made very welcome in County Clare tomorrow when he visits Ennistymon to perform an important function. I hope I will have an opportunity to brief him on a matter in Clehane, near Liscannor, where a similar feasibility study will be required to find a long-term solution to protect homes in the area. Much work remains to be done on flooding. During the Celtic tiger years, when we had an opportunity to do so, we failed to establish the necessary investment programme.

We must involve all stakeholders, follow through on the consultation process and take advantage of local knowledge. As the Minister of State correctly noted, engineers can go 80% or 90% of the way but incorporating local knowledge in an overall pathway will make a real difference. This is the type of consultation and engagement with communities that the people who vote for us expect. The Minister of State recognises this and is fully committed to acting in this regard. He went off script to make that point, which is welcome.

I am proud to live in a beautiful seaside area which attracts many tourists and generates significant tourism revenue. This year more than 1 million people visited the Cliffs of Moher, which are only a couple of miles from my home. This resulted in significant revenue and a considerable number of jobs in the general area. Unfortunately, there is also a downside, which we saw earlier in the year. What we need is a balanced approach and commitment from the Government which have been forthcoming. I look forward to working with the Minister of State to ensure we make coastal communities safer.