Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise to support and highlight the serious concerns of the people of the Listowel and Killacrim areas. Recently, on 23 November, what was classed as the perfect storm came to north Kerry and devastated over 70 homes and businesses. People visit Listowel during race week. Listowel Racecourse was overwhelmed by the flooding. People were left homeless a couple of weeks before Christmas. As regards the carnage that led from Storm Bert, there was a yellow warning that night. The weather warning for rain was not too significant but, unfortunately, there had been a snowfall three days before and the night before the temperatures had risen and a thaw had set in. What was classed as a tsunami came down the River Feale, destroyed over 70 homes and left the whole area in a bad way.The emergency response went from saving homes to saving lives and all this happened without warning. I am calling on the OPW to come to the floor of this House to provide a timeframe. A report was done by Kerry County Council, which has been commissioned, produced and presented to the OPW. As of now, however, nothing has been done. These works will come under a minor flood relief scheme and, indeed, it will relieve any serious concerns going forward for the people living in this area.

When I say the fears are real, they really are. Three weeks after this incident, I was involved in getting Kerry County Council to install 1,000 sandbags along a section of the River Feale that breached its banks. The community did this and built their own dam to prevent more homes getting damaged because there was another yellow weather warning. Will the Minister come to the floor of the House to inform us when these works, which have been identified and, it is hoped, nearly paid for, will commence? I and the people in my area need to know and would welcome the Minister to the House.