I am grateful to you, Sir, for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I wish to share my time with my constituency colleague, Deputy Gallagher, and my party colleague, Deputy McCormack.
Adjournment Debate. - Flooding in the Midlands.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Hundreds of farming families in the midlands area are in a state of distress as a consequence of the flooding of the Shannon. Tens of thousands of acres of farmland are under water with agricultural practice not possible. This flooding is the worst in living memory and must not be seen as an annual rural whinge or as the farming community crying wolf. Will my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, use his influence to speed up the proposed changes in the disadvantaged status of farmland in the midlands plain? There is a dire need for such designation which has been in the pipeline for years but, as yet, remains unapproved.
My constituency of Laoighis-Offaly, and the adjoining midlands region, due to its Leinster affiliation, is treated as if it were an affluent area, thus missing out on significant European Union grant aid. County Offaly is often regarded as a fortunate county when compared with the traditional so-called poorer areas of Connacht. This comparison is more apparent than real and is without foundation as farm incomes in the midlands and County Offaly are on a par and sometimes lower than those west of the Shannon. It is fundamentally unjust that farmers on the east bank of the River Shannon do not qualify for benefits which are available to their colleagues across the river. How can one justify the fact that citizens on one side of a river can enjoy income supplements and those on the other lose out? Are we being told by officialdom that the River Shannon floods on only one side?
The reclassification of the now underwater farmland, which resembles a huge lake comprising the entire Shannon valley, would at least breathe a measure of life into an area drowning before our eyes. The difference between handicapped and more severely handicapped status, in terms of benefits to individual farmers, is a matter of life or death in rural midland areas. I have been in touch with the Minister of State's colleague, the Minister of State in charge of the Office of Public Works, Deputy Hogan, to ensure the setting up of an appropriate programme of works to address this matter. I must stress the importance of having the midlands area, and the Shannon valley, reclassified as more severely handicapped as soon as possible.
(Laoighis-Offaly): I thank Deputy Flanagan for allowing me to share his time and wholeheartedly support the points he made about the need for urgent action in this regard. A certain level of flooding in the Shannon valley is expected every year but this year's flooding is unprecedented. There have been many calls to have the area reclassified but that call has never been as urgent as now and I hope the Minister can respond favourably. The social and economic indicators of the midlands are as bad if not worse than many areas in the west and Deputy Flanagan's case deserves an urgent response from the Government.
Many areas in counties Laois and Offaly which were never flooded before experienced dreadful flooding in the past week. There has been exceptional flooding in villages, towns and houses and the Government must help those affected. In addition, there has been severe damage — including subsidence — to regional and county roads. The European Commissioner Karel Van Miert, stated this evening that the European Commission would have to assist those affected by the dreadful flooding in Central Europe. Will the Government make a case to Europe for emergency help for this country, in particular, the midlands?
I pay tribute to the county council, Civil Defence and fire and ambulance services who rendered assistance in recent days and appeal to the Minister for an emergency Government response to this problem.
Will the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry also examine the serious flooding in the Galway area where the problem is very serious in six locations? Houses have been evacuated and cut off from other areas, farmyards, sheds and slatted houses have been flooded; in some cases, entire farms are under water. The fear gripping the community in the south Galway area is unreal. Flood levels have reached their highest ever and continue to rise. I have contacted the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Hogan, in this regard and he visited the area. I hope a plan to deal with the serious flooding problem in south Galway will be put into operation this year.
I share the Deputies' concerns at the hardship being suffered by farmers in those areas of the midlands and Galway which have been hit by the recent heavy rains. Regarding the disadvantaged status of these areas, I can report that the Irish submissions on extension and reclassification of disadvantaged areas are at present being examined by Commission officials.
A number of detailed queries have been raised on the submissions which have been or are in the course of being answered. Further bilateral meetings will be held as soon as possible, with a view to concluding an agreement on the areas to be included in the Community list of less-favoured areas, and on those areas which have been proposed for reclassification to more severely handicapped status. I am conscious of the need to bring these negotiations to a speedy and successful conclusion. I will use all the influence I have to ensure that this aim is achieved.
Because the submissions are under examination at present, I cannot comment on the inclusion or otherwise of specific areas.
At present all counties west of the Shannon are designated as less-favoured areas, with all but a small area of south-east Galway and South Clare being classified as more severely handicapped.
To the east of the Shannon, all areas which are near to the Shannon are classified as disadvantaged. In addition, a continuous strip, extending from Athlone in County Westmeath southwards to below Banagher in County Offaly was classified as more severely handicapped during the fourth review of disadvantaged areas in 1991. It was recognised at the time that, in addition, to these areas satisfying the criteria for reclassification, the periodic flooding was an additional justification for more severely handicapped status. Further areas on the southern shores of Lough Derg, in County Tipperary, are also more severely handicapped.
I will take up with the Government Deputy Gallagher's appeal for EU funding for flood damage that should be pursued. I assure Deputies Flanagan and McCormack that the Government is concerned about flooding in all parts of the country and the hardship it causes for many rural dwellers, including farmers. If it continues, the Government will review the matter.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 1 February, 1995.