Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Leader for outlining the Order of Business. One important issue missing from the schedule this week is the substantial debate we should have on the flooding that has taken place over the last week or so. I am sure everybody will join me in expressing solidarity and support to the unfortunate people in Midleton, Waterford and other parts of the country who found that their homes and businesses had been destroyed as a result of floodwater. I commend the Government on putting a substantial and comprehensive package in place. It does everything, including ensuring that people have enough resources to get back up and running. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, has announced that he will provide funding to sports clubs and facilities that have been seriously impacted as well. That is welcome and I hope the scheme is flexible, eliminates red tape and can be activated quickly because the people who have been so badly affected need to get back on their feet as quickly as possible. They need money to do that, and they need it fast.

I raise the wider issue of flooding, warnings and weather warnings. Earlier, there was a good discussion on a Commencement matter raised by Senator Cummins on identifying specific locations. For example, where is a yellow weather warning for County Clare, there could perhaps be a red weather warning in specific areas of the county. That needs to happen quickly. It can happen and the technology is there to make it happen.

The money we are spending on flood defences is nowhere near what it should be. I remember Lehinch being destroyed when the sea came in on 3 January 2014. The structures there now are fantastic and while they might not eliminate all of the damage if there was a repeat of what happened in 2014, the town would be in a much better position. We need to do a full inventory throughout the country of what flood relief and flood protection measures are needed. We need to look to Europe for some financial assistance in putting these defences in place. There is technology and there are engineering solutions out there that can, should and do deal with these issues. Maybe when the House returns after mid-term we could have a debate on all of these issues and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage could outline what the Government's short, medium and long-term plans are.