Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is no problem at all. I am delighted to have the opportunity to raise the issue of flooding with the Minister of State, who has been to Galway and knows that south Galway was particularly badly affected. We badly need a resolution. Any proposal for flood relief measures in south Galway should be sensible and realistic and should provide a real assurance to local families, businesses, farmers and all the people who have lost their livelihoods that they will be protected from the onslaught of further flooding into the future. I have already raised the issue in the Seanad. The human rights of flood victims should come ahead of any environmental considerations.

While I have no interest in interfering in the planning process, more can and should be done to ensure peace of mind for victims across Galway and other flooded regions across the country. I propose, in the first instance, that time limits be introduced for An Bord Pleanála decisions regarding flood relief measures. The Minister of State has heard much about the Dunkellin river. Understandably, there is much anger and frustration on the part of people living along the river and the Aggard stream due to the delay in decision making. The river was last dredged during the English occupation. My father said the last time he was aware that it was cleaned, they parked their vans in his father's garage in Athenry. It was some time ago. The fact that people are still awaiting a decision on whether the scheme can go ahead is ludicrous. To lose their homes and possessions on a regular basis is a terrible experience that nobody should have to endure. We should take all possible measures to alleviate the stress heaped upon the families and victims of such significant destruction as a result of flooding. Time limits for decisions of An Bord Pleanála would be a step in the right direction.

A local authority housing estate in my home town in Athenry, Caheroyan, was flooded as a result of the rainfall in December. It caused major stress to families. A cessation of rental payments for these people would be adequate to enable them to make any repairs they need to do in their gardens and compensate them for the turf they have lost from their sheds and all the damage that has been done. It would be a welcome goodwill gesture on the Minister of State's part if he could liaise with his Cabinet colleagues to see that it happens.

I raise the possibility of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, contributing to compensation for the area most affected. I am particularly thinking of Labane, Cahermore, Ballinstague and all the way to Kinvara. A very eminent academic was quoted in The Irish Timesthis week as saying that TII had picked the least suitable route for the M18. It is plausible to assume that TII exacerbated the floods in Labane, Ardrahan and Ballinstague, given the interference with the geology of the area and the fact that there has possibly been some re-engineering of the drainage in the area in order to allow the motorway to go ahead. Somebody mentioned to me that they were going through a succession of turloughs in the area.