Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to extend my congratulations to the 2018 Mayo person of the year, Sr. Maureen Lally. It is a well-deserved award. I have known Sr. Maureen well for many years. She has worked tirelessly to empower communities throughout Mayo as well as with individuals to enable them to fulfil their capacity. She is an absolutely wonderful person and a well-deserved recipient. The Mayo young person of the year is Michaela Walsh from Swinford. She has broken all Irish records and set new records in hammer-throwing. She is a wonderful example to young people throughout the country. The meitheal award went to Blacksod and Eachleim community for the part they played in the rescue of the R116 crew and the tragic events last March, as well as to those in the emergency services who worked for many days on the project. I wish to congratulate all of them and say that we are very much looking forward to them receiving the awards on 10 February.

Today, the issue of flooding is again in the news ahead of the predicted heavy rainfall and strong tides in the coming days. People living in areas in Mayo such as Crossmolina, Ballina, Carrowholly, parts of Ballcroy and other coastal communities are deeply anxious about what is going to happen in the coming 48 hours and what will happen to them, their families and their livelihoods. These communities and others have never left the headlines when it comes to the destruction caused by flooding.In many areas, even through the good weather, homeowners, farmers and business owners are left fearing freak weather conditions and the impact of the heavy rainfall. I know that along with the local authorities, the Office of Public Works, OPW, is currently developing the catchment flood risk assessment and management plans. Out of this work will come the flood risk management plans, but now is the time to act. Now is the time to provide funding to these communities, and to listen to them on the solutions they have put forward to prevent flooding in the future. It is too late for Ministers to stand in front of the press outside the flooded premises and homes and promise humanitarian aid and assistance. Why are the plans taking so long to finalise? The year 2021 is a long way off. There are another four winters for people to endure first. Is it a question of staff or capacity? If so, what are the plans to address these issues? The plans will not only identify areas at risk, but will also inform developers, farmers and the local authorities in selecting suitable sites for builders. Without these plans we will continue to suffer the consequences of poor planning decisions.

My colleague, Matt Carthy, MEP, has highlighted again and again that Ireland is in danger of being in breach of the EU floods directive. The EU may well impose sanctions until the plans are published. The timeframes for the production of reports do not have to be final. The Government can put pressure on the administrative deadlines when it wants to, and I urge it to do so in this case. It will certainly have Sinn Féin's full support both in these Houses and at local authority level. I ask the Minister to appear before the House to have another debate on the flooding issue, and to discuss how we can listen to these communities and directly provide funding to solve the problems there. I wish everybody well over the next 48 hours.