Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. We have had the two Malcolms mixed up and referred to as each other in the past.

I will raise a question regarding what, in the past, might have been regarded as a once-in-100-year climate or weather event but which, unfortunately, as the Minister of State and I know, is happening far more frequently. Last weekend, we saw freak rain and hail showers in Enniscorthy - people saw the images of what happened - that resulted in the flooding of a number of businesses, in particular. Unfortunately, this is something we are seeing with increased regularity, for instance, in New Ross last August. The only way to describe that weather is "biblical" and it caused significant damage to a number of businesses and shops. We saw a tornado ripping through parts of Foulkesmills and Clongeen that caused a lot of damage to farms and households at the time. We have also seen damage in Gorey. This is something that is happening throughout the country.

While the Government is taking the issue of responding to climate change quite seriously, the concern with regard to this involves businesses and households on the ground, what support measures are in place and how easy it is for businesses and households to be able to access them.There is increasing concern that it will become more and more difficult for people to access insurance, especially where there is a fear of an increased risk of flooding or that businesses will be subjected to freak weather events. Our overall response must be to continue with our efforts to address the challenges of climate change. However, I am asking what practical measures are in place through local government and other agencies. For instance, Oireachtas Members representing Wexford met the Minister for Rural and Community Development and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, to talk about the aftermath of the Foulksmill-Clongeen tornado to consider whether a special package could be put in place. However, we will probably be in a position where we almost need a rapid response unit. Unfortunately, we will see more of these events, which have real implications for the lives of citizens, homeowners and business people. They need to know that the State and local authorities are in a position to advise them and provide them with the necessary supports as quickly as possible.

A more general concern will arise if insurance companies choose not to continue with insurance in particular areas or if we see premiums rise to such an extent that they are out of the reach of consumers. More competition in the insurance market is welcome but we can also debate that. This Commencement matter is about the assurances the Government can give to those who are impacted by these events, especially about the challenges of local government.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I thank the Seanadóir for raising this important issue. My home town, Kilkenny, was also inundated through what can only be described as freak weather events that are happening far too consistently now.

Local authorities are designated as principal response agencies and are the lead agencies for co-ordinating the local response to severe weather, including that causing flooding, as per the Government decision relating to the framework for major emergency management of 2006. The arrangements for emergency management have evolved and are seen to have worked well when called upon, especially responses to flooding and other severe weather emergencies led by local authorities.

All local authorities have severe weather and flood plans in place to support the response to weather emergencies as part of individual major emergency plans. Local authorities also have severe weather assessment teams in place that monitor warnings from Met Éireann and other agencies such as the Office of Public Works, OPW, as well as European Flood Awareness System, EFAS, warnings and high-tide advisories.

As set out in the Government-approved Strategic Emergency Management National Structures and Framework of 2017, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is designated as the lead Department for co-ordination of responses to flooding and other emergencies at national level where warranted. The Department's national directorate for fire and emergency management undertakes the role and works closely with local authority severe weather assessment teams. At a national level, the Department is responsible for the co-ordination of the whole-of-government response facilitating collective decision-making and cohesive action among the broad range of Departments, organisations and groups that have a role to play.

Since 2009, it has been established practice for the Department to assist local authorities in meeting unbudgeted costs such as staff overtime and the hire of plant and contractors associated with clean-up and other necessary immediate works following severe weather emergency events, including flooding. This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of activities carried out by local authorities when responding to these types of emergencies and the fact that the cost of these unprogrammed activities cannot be met with existing resources. This practice is considered to be a vital enabler of local authority responses by providing the assurance that the availability of resources is not a limiting factor in providing an effective local response. The repair of local infrastructure is funded by the relevant Department in line with sectoral responsibility. Capital costs associated with infrastructural damage, for example to the roads network and coastal protection infrastructure, are therefore not included in the aforementioned arrangements.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage works closely with all local authorities during severe weather events and once notified of instances of flood damage to homes, small businesses or the community sector, requests the standing up of humanitarian aid schemes run by the Departments of Social Protection and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of flooding and other severe weather events through the humanitarian assistance scheme, which was approved by the Government in November 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not able to meet the cost of essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair.Following a severe weather event, community welfare staff closely monitor the situation on the ground and engage with the relevant local authorities and other agencies. Levels of payment under the scheme depend on the relative severity of the damage experienced, and the household's ability to meet these costs, ensuring the funding is appropriately targeted. The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families who have average levels of income will qualify for assistance. In general, householders seeking assistance under the scheme are residents in areas where there is a known likelihood of flooding and insurance policies do not provide cover for flood damage. As the Senator rightly said, this could extend to far more areas far more frequently as things stand. Support for small businesses, community, voluntary, and sporting bodies affected by flooding and who have been unable to secure insurance due to flood risk is administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The scheme can be invoked on an ad hoc basis upon notification of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that there has been a flooding incident which requires such support.

Regarding Enniscorthy, the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, NDFEM, is working closely with Wexford County Council to identify homes and businesses impacted by heavy hail showers and flooding at the weekend. Once identified, their details will be forwarded to the Department dealing with the appropriate humanitarian aid scheme. Go raibh maith agat.

Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. I want to praise the local authorities for their response in every case, often under very difficult circumstances. We need to have a much greater awareness on the ground of the kind of supports that exist, almost a one-stop-shop, to be able to move in as quickly as possible. As part of a whole-of-government approach I have become increasingly concerned, for instance about the number of cases that have happened in County Wexford. The Minister of State will be aware of the number of cases that have happened in County Kilkenny. These are events that people normally talk about happening once in a lifetime or once in 100 years. If they continue to happen more regularly and if it becomes more difficult for businesses and households to get insurance, a broader approach will be needed. We cannot have an ad hoc response every time we have one of these events and I hope this is something the Minister of State's Department can consider, in partnership with the local authorities.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Senator has made a really valid point and it is important we take on board what he proposes. The idea of a one-stop-shop and a whole-of-government approach - a whole-of-government approach is happening - and information and communication on the supports that are available are critically important. In the longer term, if we look at the vote at the EU environment committee today and the opportunity I see in the nature restoration law and regulation and having to look at catchment management nature-based solutions in urban areas, there is a fantastic opportunity to be seized now. Given that these increased events are happening and the scale and the ferocity of them, nature is our solution and nature can be our answer. It is critically important we embrace the nature restoration regulations and, in the shorter term, comfort the families and businesses affected by events in Enniscorthy. The Government will continue to support them. As the Senator said, that broad government approach and co-ordination around what unfortunately will be increasing events into the future is important.