Vol. 194 No. 1
asked the Minister for Finance whether in view of the wholesale destruction of homes and furniture and equipment therein along the South West Cork seaboard he will consider making available special relief grants to enable the persons affected to re-establish their homes and offset their tragic losses.
21.
asked the Minister for Finance whether, in view of the extensive damage to houses, furniture, clothing, etc., suffered by many families in the South West Cork area on account of the recent flooding, he will make special grants available for the relief of the hardship caused to these families by such flooding.
22.
asked the Minister for Finance whether in view of the extensive damage to houses, furniture, clothing, etc., suffered by many families in the Carrigaline, Crosshaven, and Robert's Cove areas, County Cork due to the recent flooding and in view of the great hardship thus caused to these families he will make special grants available for the relief of the distress caused by this flooding.
23.
asked the Minister for Finance whether in view of the havoc caused during the recent storm in the coastal areas of South West Cork he will make funds available immediately to alleviate suffering in the distressed areas and to repair the damage caused to the foreshores and the walls surrounding the areas affected.
24.
asked the Minister for Finance whether in view of the considerable damage caused by the recent storm in the coastal areas of South West Cork and the hardship to the local population resulting from such damage he will immediately make funds available to repair this damage and to alleviate the distress caused by it.
25.
asked the Minister for Finance whether he will make State funds available to alleviate the disastrous damage caused in the Youghal area by the recent storms and flooding, in view of the fact that the repair of this damage is completely beyond the limited resources of Youghal Urban Council, and that if repair work is not carried out immediately the present damage will worsen rapidly.
26.
asked the Minister for Finance whether the Government have under consideration any plans to alleviate distress caused by recent flooding; and, if so, whether he will outline any such plans.
27.
asked the Minister for Finance whether the Government propose to compensate the victims of the recent flooding in Cork City and County.
28.
asked the Minister for Finance whether in view of the nature of the damage that can arise from the type of storm which recently affected the South West Cork area he will consider the advisability of creating an emergency insurance fund, partly contributed to by the State and by the occupants of these areas, so as to ensure that should future storm damage of this nature arise there would be funds available for the immediate relief of the people in the distressed areas.
With the premission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 28 together.
I would point out that the relief of distress is a matter for local initiative in the first instance. In so far as it might be necessary for local authorities to borrow for the purpose, the Government would be prepared to facilitate them.
As I indicated in reply to similar questions by Deputies last week, the Government is unable to accept liability, by way of the creation of a fund or otherwise, for compensation to private individuals or business concerns who suffered losses as a result of the recent flooding. The creation of a fund by the State to meet possible future losses would also be impracticable.
I wish to repeat that it is open to persons who have suffered damage of a structural nature to their private dwellings to apply to the Department of Local Government for a grant under the Housing Acts towards the cost of repairing the damage. Local authorities are empowered to make supplementary grants for the same purpose, and may apply for loans from the Local Loans Fund to cover the capital cost involved. Losses sustained by traders as a result of stock being damaged by flooding would be allowable for income tax purposes in so far as they are not covered by insurance.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say what responsibility, if any, the State takes for flooding of the Shannon River?
That is an entirely different matter.
It is still flooding. Does the State take any responsibility for it?
Yes, under the Arterial Drainage Act of 1945, there is specific provision for such a contingency as a breach of the Shannon embankment.
