Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this discussion on the very important Be Winter-Ready campaign. The key issues are to be prepared, stay safe and know where to turn to for help. These are the key messages that must be communicated, especially to older people in the community. As others have said, people must ensure that they have an adequate supply of water and food in their homes in case we experience very harsh weather conditions. Medication is also very important because some people may not be able to leave their homes to obtain supplies. In terms of community spirit, it is very important that people keep an eye on one another and we have seen that happening all over the country in the past few years.

Our weather conditions have changed a lot recently and we can experience several seasons in a very short space of time. Flooding was referred to earlier and my county of Limerick has suffered a lot in this regard in recent years. An additional difficulty is that the ESB often has to release excess water from Ardnacrusha and this further complicates matters in the area.

I welcome the fact that the campaign is focused on flooding. It provides a lot of very practical advice, such as turning off the water to one's home if one is going to be away for a number of days. However, there are some issues relating to flooding that are crucial and deserving of more attention. A lot has been done for flood prone areas but a lot more can be done. Insurance is a major issue for many people. Some householders have been unable to get home insurance because their homes are built on flood plains or they have been flooded in the past.

The campaign leaflet contains many practical tips which I welcome. It points out the importance of maintaining our modes of transport. Whether one uses a car or a bicycle, it is very important to ensure that the lights are working properly. The leaflet also advises people to wear high visibility vests in the winter months so that they are clearly visible on the road. People also need to allow extra time for their journeys.

On the issue of farm safety, a number of students from Pallaskenry College were here yesterday to meet the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed. They had carried out a survey on farm safety. The number of accidents on farms is very high but many of the 546 farmers surveyed were unaware of many important health and safety issues. The campaign leaflet advises farmers to tell someone in the household when they are going out to check on their animals during bad weather.

The local authorities in the mid-west have come together and agreed an emergency plan, in conjunction with all of the emergency service providers. That is something that should be replicated country wide. Volunteers have been mentioned already and I would like to pay tribute to all of those who volunteer their time to help others. In Limerick, for example, there are volunteers who patrol the rivers at night to make sure that there are no accidents. These volunteers, along with the staff of all of the emergency services and local authorities, must be thanked for their work.