asked the Minister for Local Government whether his attention has been drawn to the flooding and damage occasioned thereby to the houses and residences of the areas of Sandymount, Merrion Road, Anglesea Road and Clonskea, Dublin; whether, having regard to the fact that similar flooding occurred about two years ago in consequence of which the cause of such flooding ought to have been ascertained he will see that the residents are adequately compensated for the failure of whatever authority is responsible to take adequate steps to prevent the recurrence of the flooding; and whether it is true that the local authority is held up in taking steps to remedy the position by his failure to give his sanction to the remedial measures proposed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Compensation for Flood Losses.
30.
I have already requested the three local authorities concerned to submit as soon as possible, detailed reports on all the recent floodings in South Dublin and I have asked what it is proposed to do to minimise the effects of any similar occurrence in the future. A preliminary report has been received from Dublin Corporation, in which it is stated that a fall of 6" of rain was recorded in the Castlekelly and Bohernabreena areas resulting in the overflowing of the River Dodder at certain points, causing damage to property in the Clonskea, Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge and Sandymount areas. The flooding in 1963 was of an entirely different origin, namely, the heavy overloading of the surface water drainage system in the area by an abnormally heavy rainfall concentrated in that area over a very short period. It will therefore be evident that any remedial measures which might have been taken to prevent a recurrence of the 1963 flooding would not have been effective in preventing the river flooding of last week.
Detailed design proposals for the Pembroke Main Drainage Scheme, which as well as providing improved sewerage facilities will also give greater protection from flooding in the Ballsbridge, Merrion and Sandymount areas, were received by my Department on the 22nd instant and examination of these proposals by my technical advisers is being undertaken.
I have no information as to the extent of the damage occasioned to the houses in the areas in question by last week's flooding. Under the Housing Acts, reconstruction grants are available for reconstruction or repair work necessitated through damage caused by flooding.
I should say that Deputy Costello, in his question, asked the Minister to deal with the question of compensation for affected householders. Assuming information regarding the losses is furnished to the Minister's Department, can the Parliamentary Secretary say if any provision exists whereby compensation will be afforded to these people, in so far as they are not covered otherwise by insurance?
I am afraid there are no funds in the Department available for compensation in respect of household effects, if that is what the Deputy means. Grants will be made available to people for the repair of houses damaged in the recent flooding.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether or not an application for reconstruction in these circumstances would be defeated if a grant had been given earlier under the Act, or will there be special provision for flood damage, so that it will not be turned down because a grant has already been made?
The Deputy can take it that even where reconstruction grants were given five or six years ago, or even longer, a further grant will be given now for damages as a result of the recent flooding and that that, in turn, will not affect a further grant being given in four or five years' time.
Will grants be given for redecorating premises which have been destroyed by flooding?
The Deputy knows the Housing Acts do not extend to decorating, even in cases of reconstruction.
But neither did they when flooding occurred in the North Strand area some years ago and grants were given then out of a special fund, and these were for household effects, too.
31.
asked the Minister for Local Government what assistance will be given to persons who suffered damage to their homes and contents thereof in the recent floods.
State grants are available under section 4 (1) (a) of the Housing (Loans and Grants) Act, 1962, for works necessary because of damage caused by wind, rain or flooding. I have arranged that priority will be given at all stages to the consideration of applications for such grants, arising out of the recent floods.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary and the Government have regard to the fact that we are dealing with an emergency situation which calls for emergency measures of relief for the people who have been so badly affected by the emergency? Would he not rely upon Acts which were never intended to deal with the kind of misfortune which has afflicted thousands of families throughout the length and breadth of this country over the past couple of weeks?
As far as our efforts in the Department are concerned, under the Housing (Loans and Grants) Act, 1962, we are prepared to consider and to treat as priorities any applications made now to help people to reconstruct their homes following damage caused by flooding.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that it is grossly insufficient to provide even a proportion to some people who lost all their belongings in the recent floods? Would the Government not come off it, do the sensible thing and provide adequate compensation for these unfortunate people?
I should like to ask a question with regard to contents. The Parliamentary Secretary is aware that, particularly in the Bray and Baltinglass areas of County Wicklow, a number of people have not only been badly affected in relation to the actual building—which would be covered possibly under reconstruction grants—but have suffered very grievous loss of furniture, household effects and other contents of that kind.
I understood earlier today, from replies given by the Taoiseach, that the Parliamentary Secretary would deal with that situation when replying to this question. I am concerned to find out if there is any fund whatever which the Government will make available, or create, for the purpose of compensating these people, to some extent at any rate, for the losses they have sustained. I do not want to make a speech but the Parliamentary Secretary will be aware that it is only by reason of the tremendous efforts of the local authorities and charitable organisations in the Bray area that much great hardship has been avoided.
I agree with everything the Deputy says in that great hardships have occurred in the whole of County Wicklow——
The whole country.
——and the whole country, but I do not think it is right to suggest that the Taoiseach said the Department of Local Government——
The Deputy asked me about the procedure by which people would go about getting these grants.
It is grossly insufficient anyway.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary a question? The Minister for Local Government has been reported in the newspapers as saying that any person who had suffered grievous loss, for which other provision had not been made, as a result of flooding, would have his application for compensatory payments sympathetically and favourably considered if they were made known to the Minister.
The Minister said it in relation to the repair of houses damaged by flooding.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary then be good enough to direct the attention of the Minister for Local Government to the fact that many people have suffered the severest damage in the loss of their household goods, furniture, carpets and other articles of that kind? Would he ask the Minister if he will bring that matter to the attention of the Government so that a procedure similar to the one adopted by us in 1954 might be considered and suggest that it is reasonable and prudent to expect that, if they do not do that, these people may be very seriously affected.
The Taoiseach earlier today referred to the announcement by the Minister for Local Government in regard to the way in which he was trying to meet this situation. He made it prefectly clear that local authorities would be allowed to use Road Fund money in respect of road damages, replacement of bridges and so on and that, under the Housing Acts, grants would be made available to people to reconstruct their houses.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell the Minister to think about the furniture and carpets, too?