John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. Senator Whelan has basically covered everything in a nutshell. I have visited areas in Ballinasloe, Athlone, Carrick-on-Shannon and Boyle that were flooded - these areas are always prone to flooding - and I am aware that there is no one solution in terms of solving this problem. I know one woman who has been a captive in her home for five or six weeks as a result of flooding. She has not been able to use her toilet for six weeks. She cannot use the dishwasher, the washing machine or anything else. The house is surrounded by sandbags and she is constantly having family members in to try to keep the seeping water away from her front door.

I raised this issue before the Seanad broke for the Christmas recess. I stated that Athlone is a town prone to flooding and that it would be flooded. I highlighted the fact that there is a company based in Athlone called Global Flood Solutions but nobody from Government made contact with the proprietor to see what could he do to solve the problem around the town. He is selling his product all over the world and yet the Government, which was reactive rather than proactive, would not do business with him. There are other companies in County Galway that provide similar products that were in touch with me and nobody has been in contact with them. Last year, when Foynes in Limerick was under threat of flooding, the OPW went to Global Flood Solutions and invested in its product. That product worked and saved Foynes from flooding. We need to involve companies that have expertise and ensure that they are part of the solution.

Senator Barrett mentioned insurance, a matter to which I will also refer. Those whose properties were flooded will not get insurance unless the Government intervenes. I am aware of one business - a pub - in my locality that was flooded and to which €2,500 worth of damage was done. It is not a great deal but it is still €2,500. The insurance policy covers the business for fire, flooding and public liability but if the owners make a claim for flooding, they will never get insurance again. They are in an awful predicament. What should they do?

Finally, Senator Whelan mentioned the fire service - our emergency service. I have great faith in the fire service but, unfortunately, during the flooding crisis throughout the country, some local authorities were refusing to let the fire service - which has expertise when it comes to flooding - out because of the cost involved. It is important that the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, should make a ministerial intervention on this matter and inform local authorities that the fire service should be deployed in all cases of emergency, including flooding.