Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the storm that hit west Cork and southern Ireland in particular yesterday. I think it is moving northwards now. It did significant damage in many ways to roads and other infrastructure. The town of Bantry got flooded again. It is the fourth time it has been flooded in the past 18 months. It was a significant flood. Damage to local property was limited because of the good work of Cork County Council. Having the flood relief scheme in Bantry brought forward is a massive issue for the town. You cannot realistically have viable, thriving trade if the town will be flooded continuously. Four floods in 18 months is unbelievable. Having talked to the traders this morning, I understand they have never seen such a prolonged flood in the history of the town. We have a huge issue in making sure that infrastructure and towns such as Bantry will be protected from storms coming in.

A debate is required with the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW about how he hopes to progress these schemes. They are very important. Flood defence schemes in particular need to be progressed. We have seen changes in weather patterns and storms come in regularly. Unless we bring forward and streamline these proposals, towns such as Bantry will still be flooded every time a southwesterly gale comes in with a storm. It was unfair on the entire peninsula and the entire community that one of the major towns, if not the biggest town, of that part of the world was totally closed up yesterday because of a flood. This has a huge impact on the entire business community and on society itself. We therefore need an urgent debate in these Houses about how we can fast-track these projects. We cannot have them held up for decades because of planning issues. A debate with the Minister of State with responsibility for this issue would be very important.