(Carlow-Kilkenny): I wish to express my thanks for the opportunity to raise this matter this evening. The River Barrow, like all rivers, is a marvellous asset for any town, but unfortunately this asset can become a liability when it overflows its banks. Carlow town is very proud of the River Barrow, but unfortunately the town has been hit twice in three years by flooding. It is time something was done about this matter so that there will not be a third occurrence of flooding.
Many of the houses that were flooded were built in the 1840s. From what I have been told, in 50 years there were only three floods, with a major flood in 1847. However, we can neither live in the past nor talk about the present. Nor is it sufficient to say that nature takes over when the rains come or ask what can we do when the floods arrive. I suggest that two things should be done. First, the river should be dredged and any obstacles that hold back the flood removed. I hope the Minister will be prepared to carry out a study on the difficulty involved in drainage of the River Barrow. The second consideration should be the building of a wall to keep the floods in, which is possible. If that is agreed, work may need to be carried out downriver, because obviously we cannot prevent a flood in one part of the town while causing a flood in another part. Such a study must be carried out with speed to prevent further flooding.
The families and businesses whose premises were recently flooded experienced great difficulties and I ask the Minister what compensation will be given to these people. The cost of drying out a house is very high and in some cases, due to the location of the house, there is no insurance cover. Businesses experienced even greater loss because as goods were damaged business had to cease. It is bad enough to experience flooding and all its attendant problems, but the financial expenditure involved in replacing fittings and equipment is an extra burden. I hope the Minister will have positive news on the drainage of the Barrow and on compensation for those affected by the flooding.