Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
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First, I acknowledge the apologies I have received from the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring. I have spoken to one of his departmental officials this morning and have been in contact with his private secretary. I have requested a meeting with the Minister and am happy for the Chief Whip, Deputy McHugh, who is also a Deputy for Donegal, to be present at that meeting because this is now an urgent matter which requires urgent attention from the Government.

I will paint the picture for the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. Buncrana is a town of significant size but can he imagine any town in Ireland in which the main park, which is beloved by and rooted in the community, where families and the elderly go walking and where partnerships with schools, environmental groups and Tidy Towns groups are developed based on this amenity, has been utterly destroyed? Just up the road there are major sporting amenities which have been utterly destroyed, including the destruction of a number of pitches at Cockhill Celtic. It is two months since the flooding but I have had to raise the matter in the Seanad again and again to get someone in government to grapple with the issue. That is how serious it is. The major park and sporting amenities have been destroyed in one community while nothing is being done about it by central government. That is why I am going to keep raising this every week, with the permission of the Cathaoirleach, until I get someone to grasp how serious the issue is and to grapple with it.

A second issue is Glenevin Waterfall in Clonmany, a beautiful amenity which was developed by the local people and includes a riverside walk up to a wonderful waterfall. It is part of the tourism offering in Inishowen and is beloved by the local community. While they have worked to put it back in place, they need help and funding. I acknowledge that the Government has stepped up with some of the relief schemes. I acknowledge that Ministers came to Donegal very quickly when this crisis happened. However, there is a sense that two months later, with the cameras moving on, major gaps exist which are not being addressed.

Swan Park in Buncrana, Glenevin Waterfall in Clonmany and Cockhill Celtic Football Club are massive issues. I am not taking a parish-pump approach to it. I am being realistic when I point out that there is no other community in Ireland that would be abandoned in the way we have been in respect of our major amenities. I ask the Government to understand that. I ask the Minister, Deputy Ring, to meet me as soon as possible, address the issue and provide once-off emergency funding to get these amenities up and running again.That is my appeal to the Minister of State. I have passed this message to the Minister, Deputy Ring, through his parliamentary assistant, private secretary and departmental officials. I hope to get a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the presence in the Gallery of Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe and his friend. It is always nice to see Members of the Lower House coming here to pay homage to this great Chamber.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Rural and Community Development who cannot be present due to other commitments.

I acknowledge the devastation caused by the floods in County Donegal at the end of August, particularly the damage to Swan Park and Glenevin Waterfall. I understand the Department of Rural and Community Development supported the development of Swan Park in 2015 through the pilot scheme for rural economic development zones. We were all shocked at the extent of the damage to roads, bridges and property caused by the flooding in County Donegal in such a short period. In response to these events, the Government immediately activated its humanitarian assistance scheme to assist people whose homes were damaged by flooding and who were not in a position to meet the costs relating to essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repairs. I understand that temporary emergency support was provided for small businesses, community groups and sports clubs. The Senator has acknowledged the Government's response in these areas. I appreciate his concern about the amenities at Swan Park and Glenevin Waterfall.

I am advised that, unfortunately, the Department of Rural and Community Development schemes which might have been of relevance closed for applications earlier in the year. The closing date for county-based initiatives under the outdoor recreational infrastructure scheme was the end of May and applications under the town and village renewal scheme closed at the end of June. Funding for 2017 under these schemes has been committed at this stage. The Minister previously suggested in response to a parliamentary question that the Leader local action group in County Donegal could engage with the local community with a view to identifying whether Leader support could assist these projects. Senator Mac Lochlainn has said he is not satisfied that Leader support is sufficient. I suggest that if funding were available under Leader, it might help to leverage other sources of funding from the private or public sectors. The approval of projects under the Leader programme is ultimately a matter for local action groups. I encourage a further exploration with the local action group in County Donegal regarding the options available to support the repair of the amenities at Swan Park and Glenevin Waterfall.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I think Senator Mac Lochlainn's suggestion that he and the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, might meet the Minister could be facilitated soon. That might lead to progress in this regard. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, does not have responsibility for this issue. Ministers of State sometimes have to fulfil certain duties when Ministers are unavailable. Perhaps the Senator's proposal could be worked on expeditiously. That might be a better way to proceed. If not, the Senator can certainly raise the matter here again.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach. I appreciate his guidance on this matter. I ask the Minister of State to relay to the Minister the request I have made in support of the issue I have raised. There is frustration because the unprecedented levels of water that accompanied this remarkable act of God destroyed the amenities I have mentioned. On that basis, we are asking the Government to intervene. This should not be treated as a regular application for funding. The extraordinary events of last August require an extraordinary response. Unfortunately, there are serious problems with the bureaucratic procedures involved in making applications for Leader funding. In places like County Donegal, there are huge demands for the limited funds that are available. The Leader programme is really not the way to address this issue. In advance of the meeting I hope to have with the Minister as soon as possible, I emphasise to the departmental officials who are listening to this debate that we need an exceptional and extraordinary response. This beautiful park, which is a key amenity, has been destroyed. This beloved facility was developed over decades by the local community. I cannot overstate the wonder and beauty of the amenities that have been destroyed. In the case of Glenevin Waterfall, which is wonderful and beautiful, it is possible that Leader funding could make a limited contribution. Urgent Government intervention is needed. I do not know of anywhere else in Ireland where this would be allowed to continue without an intervention taking place. I thank the Cathaoirleach again for his assistance and support. I hope we can get a resolution soon.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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As natives of west Cork, the Cathaoirleach and I are no strangers to the devastation caused by flooding. We understand the Senator's plight. Following Storm Ophelia last month, the people in coastal areas of west Cork can probably, as much as anyone else, empathise with the people of County Donegal. I will pass the Senator's sentiments to the Minister. Maybe it would be helpful to put a costing on the repairs that are required. I know the Senator is engaging with Donegal County Council. If he continues to work with the council to try to get an exact and precise cost for the repairs that are required, it will help in the process of getting funding for the project and ensure we are not talking in terms of unknown figures and facts.