Deputy Davern gave me notice of his intention to raise the matter as to the alleviation of the problems caused to the people of Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir by the recent flooding. Deputy Hugh Byrne gave me notice of his intention to raise the matter as to the problems caused by recent flooding in the south east. The matters raised by the Deputies are similar and I suggest, therefore, that each Deputy makes his statement to be followed by the Minister for Finance who will then reply to both Deputies; in other words the Deputies would share ten minutes.
Adjournment Debate. - Flood Damage.
I wish to give Deputy Ferris one minute of my time.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
The heavy rainfall in the Suir Valley in conjunction with the east winds caused considerable damage in Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir and the area between the two towns. Such problems arose occasionally but in the 12 months of one calendar year they occured on two occasions. There was severe flooding on 10 March last year and again in January of this year. People who had mopped up the water, repaired their homes, replaced carpets and furniture have had to repeat the exercise. That is why it is an urgent problem.
I understand that South Tipperary County Council estimates it will cost £1.986 million to repair the damage and cover the cost of services involved in dealing with the flooding, such as the fire brigade and civil defence. Roads have been severely damaged in the east of the county and this has caused widespread disruption in the Dragan, Mullinahone, Cloneen and Fethard area. One bridge was washed away isolating 25 families on the side of Slieve na mBan. I am disappointed that the Minister said yesterday that no extra moneys would be given for road repairs except through discretionary grants. If we do not get additional moneys our good record for road repairs will be lost. The estimated damage in Carrick-on-Suir is £303,000 and £610,000 in Clonmel. The estimated cost of repairing damaged roads throughout the county is £800,000. The people of Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir have had to cope with extensive flooding twice in 12 months. The vast majority of those living beside the river cannot get insurance cover because of the frequency of the flooding of their houses in the past ten years but even if they were to get cover the premium would be so high as to make it uneconomic. People who have worked hard all their lives to make their homes beautiful have had them destroyed.
In America they have a devastation fund to deal with such disasters and we should have a similar system. I appreciate that the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Coveney, received a sympathetic hearing when he sought aid from Brussels but it will be three months before we receive any funding. In the meantime people have to carry out repairs and pay for them. I compliment the Rotary Club of Clonmel for giving £3,000 towards the mopping up costs. I call on the financial institutions to co-operate and provide interest free loans when the Minister announces the level of grants to be given to flood victims. This will enable people to repair their homes speedily. That is the minimum contribution the financial institutions should make to the people of Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir. Let me stress to the Minister the urgency of providing funding.
I thank Deputy Davern for giving me the opportunity to raise this issue. We agree on the problem in the Suir basin which has affected Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir and surrounding areas. There is a need for a contingency fund and, having listened to the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Coveney, I am sure he will add money from his Department to the funding from Brussels. We need to address the root of the problem so that people can feel safe in their homes. People live in fear if there is continuous rain at night. The Red Cross has built up an expertise in dealing with the traumatic effects of flood damage.
The River Anner needs to be surveyed as some of the changes in the course of it have caused damage to bridges and other properties. The result of such a survey will cause many red faces in south Tipperary. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Coveney for travelling to south Tipperary and walking the streets and visiting the properties that were flooded in Clonmel and Carrick. Senator Byrne, the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Davern and I are all at one in trying to address this problem.
I understand that Deputy Browne of Wexford sought to raise this issue on the Adjournment also and wish to share my time with him.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
For the first 23 days in January the rainfall in County Wexford was on average 295 per cent of normal rainfall and reached 375 per cent of normal rainfall in one day. These storms had a detrimental effect on coastal areas and county roads and houses were flooded. On Friday, 12 January, Deputy Hyland, MEP, Deputy Browne and I travelled from Arthurstown in south Wexford to Courtown in north Wexford and visited 11 locations to survey the destruction caused by the flooding.
There are three aspects to the problem one of which is coastal erosion. The Wexford coastline is of a sandy nature, is very soft and is therefore very vulnerable. In response to my question at last week's county council meeting I was told that global warming has caused tides to rise by five inches in the past six years. Until now most people regarded global warming as a myth but it is not and we must bear it in mind. It must be pointed out also that 7,000 acres in south County Wexford are below sea level and protected by a bank of earth and stones similar to the polder in Holland. That land is under great threat at all times. Duncannon in south Wexford has been eroded over the years. I understand the county council intends to put matters right and the Minister should ensure that those works proceed as a stitch in time saves nine. Cullenstown seaside resort village is in danger of falling into the sea. Remedial work is ready to commence and a foreshore licence is awaited. I ask the Minister to put his shoulder to the wheel and ensure the licence is available so the work can progress. The bowling alley, toilets and houses at the western end of the resort are also in imminent danger of collapsing into the sea.
Rosslare, where a scheme was partially put in place, is in urgent need of phase two work. The county engineer has stated that if this work is not carried out soon, there will be an island at Rosslare. The money is committed and I ask the Minister to ensure it is spent. Ballyconnigar, Curracloe and Cahore have lost substantial pieces of the shoreline and it is tragic to see a house hanging over a sand cliff into the sea. The position in Courtown is frightening. Mature trees of inestimable age were uprooted and the local population is fearful. The entire problem must be addressed with an immediate survey and subsequently, urgent action.
King's Street, South Main Street, Skeffington Street, Redmond Road and Arthurstown were flooded and the Clonmel disaster was mirrored many times in those areas. The situation in King's Street, which was raised by Deputy Liam Hyland in the European Parliament last week, was unbelievable. For example, a sitting room which was recently refurbished at a cost of £7,000 was destroyed. Seventeen other houses in the immediate area were equally badly damaged and compensation must be paid to those house proud people.
When this matter was raised with the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Howlin, he said the houses were covered by insurance. However, the people informed Deputy Browne, Deputy Hyland and me that they cannot get insurance for their houses. The county roads in County Wexford, as elsewhere, also need urgent attention.
(Wexford): I thank Deputy Byrne for sharing his time. In common with the Deputy, I visited King's Street and South Main Street in Wexford last week and witnessed the damage caused to houses, businesses and property by widespread flooding in that area. Old people and families were devastated and their houses destroyed. Furniture, carpets and wallpaper were severely damaged and the losses run into thousands of pounds.
Most of the people affected are old age pensioners, the unemployed and working families. They are not in a position financially to replace the items lost. I call on the Minister to make compensation available through the Department of Finance to householders and business people in Wexford town and the following areas in particular: King's Street, South Main Street, Crescent Quay, Commercial Quay, Paul Quay, Common Quay, Monk Street, Skeffington Street and Redmond Square.
It is said that insurance will cover the costs but people in the King's Street and South Main Street areas are unable to get insurance because the streets have been flooded so frequently in the past. Insurance companies do not want to know about these houses. As a result, people are continually living in fear when flooding occurs in this part of town.
There are three Ministers in County Wexford. I congratulate Deputies Davern and Ferris and other Deputies from Tipperary who came together and made a strong case for the area. However, the three Ministers in County Wexford are lagging behind in terms of seeking support for the county. The Minister of State, Deputy Coveney, should visit King's Street and South Main Street to witness the consequences of the damage caused by flooding there. I call on the two Ministers at the Cabinet table, Deputies Howlin and Yates, to fight a battle on behalf of the people in County Wexford to ensure they receive adequate compensation.
I thank the Minister for generously sharing his time. It was traumatic to visit the homes of flood victims in south Tipperary and witness the human misery. In addition, we must not lose sight of the huge financial losses experienced by business people who were forced to keep their premises closed as a result of the flooding.
Two issues arise, compensation and investigating why south Tipperary experienced such exceptional flooding. No comparable flooding has occurred for decades. I am extremely grateful to the Minister of State, Deputy Coveney, who showed exceptional solidarity with and compassion for the people who suffered. He presented an excellent case in Brussels which today resulted in the Commission supporting the application for compensation.
I call for an independent inquiry into the exceptional flooding in south Tipperary, otherwise Deputies will be forced to raise this issue again in six or 12 months after another downpour and seek compensation. People want confidence that, after they restore and redecorate their houses, they will not find them flooded again in the near future. I am assured the Government will examine this matter with due consideration for the people affected.
I am replying on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Coveney. I have listened with great interest to what the Deputies have said about the problems caused by the recent flooding in the south east. The picture they describe is very familiar to me and I am sure to people in many parts of the south and south east which experienced adverse weather conditions recently.
These conditions comprised exceptionally heavy and prolonged rainfall over the period from approximately 29 December 1995 to 14 January 1996. This led to high, and in some areas unprecedented, water levels in rivers which, combined with high winds and raised tide levels due to a severe low pressure system centred in the area, caused flooding and damage in a number of locations. I pay tribute to the work of the various local services in responding to the flooding.
The immediate responsibility to take steps to try to prevent or limit the flooding and, where that proves to be impossible, to deal with the effects of flooding, falls primarily on local authorities. They have the local organisation and personnel to deal with such situations in the most effective way, assisted where necessary by other agencies.
There is a major emergency plan for each local authority area which defines the role of the local authorities, the Garda and health boards in the event of major emergencies. While the major emergency plan does not normally need to be activated in the case of flooding incidents, its provisions generally guide the activities of the various agencies and ensure an orderly and effective response.
The local authority staff, local Garda, fire services and Civil Defence personnel all responded magnificently to the emergency, as did many private individuals who willingly came to the assistance of their neighbours. On behalf of the Government, I express appreciation of the efforts of all concerned.
The Minister of State, Deputy Coveney, has been aware both in general and specific terms from reports received from around the affected areas of the extent of the hardship caused to families by the flooding of homes throughout the south and south east, including County Wexford where, I understand, a substantial number of houses suffered flooding and from personal experience following his visits to Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary last week. These two areas were particularly badly affected.
The Minister of State is also aware from preliminary reports, provided at his request by the local authorities to the Department of the Environment, of the nature and extent of the flooding and the resultant hardship in Counties Cork, Kilkenny and Waterford. The Government is likewise conscious of the traumatising effect such flooding can have on individuals, particularly the elderly, and cannot but sympathise with the plight of the flood victims.
While the Government cannot accept the principle that it has an obligation to meet requests for payment in full for losses, it recognises that individuals may require assistance from time to time to get them over very adverse situations and acknowledges their need to be treated on a humanitarian basis, particularly where they are under insured and in poor financial circumstances.
In that context, the Minister of State, Deputy Coveney, brought the problem of the serious hardship caused in parts of Ireland due to the exceptional flooding to the attention of the EU by means of a submission. This included a folder of press cuttings and photographs from national and local newspapers and video footage from RTE which gave a clear indication of the extent of the disaster and the resulting hardship. Incidentally, this contained specific references to the flooding and other damage in the Wexford and south Tipperary areas. This was followed up by a personal visit by the Minister and officials of the Office of Public Works to Brussels where they met Mr. David Williamson, Secretary General of the EU Commission on Monday, 22 January. I am pleased to say that Mr. Williamson responded to the Minister's request and indicated he would propose to the Commission that aid be provided to Ireland and Portugal, which also suffered severe flooding. I understand that this proposal was put to and approved by the Commission today. A request will now be made to the EU Council and Parliament to provide the necessary funding, which was not previously provided in the 1996 EU budget. This will involve a transfer of funds from other allocations and it is a matter on which the Parliament must decide. This process, I am advised, is likely to take between 40 and 60 days.
Consideration will be given to further humanitarian assistance from the Exchequer in the light of any provision provided from the European Union. However, it must be emphasised that any assistance from the Exchequer will necessarily be limited and the cost will have to be met from existing budget provisions. It is customary when the EU provides humanitarian assistance in such circumstances that the funds are channelled through the national Red Cross Society of the member state, in this case the Irish Red Cross Society. The Irish Red Cross Society, which has considerable professional experience in dealing compassionately, impartially and effectively with the disbursement of such humanitarian funds, fully supports the Government's application to the EU Commission for humanitarian assistance and stands ready to administer any funds which might be made available from EU or Exchequer sources.
In the circumstances, as it may be some time yet before any funds might come on stream, the Irish Red Cross Society, with whom we have been in contact, advises that householders and others who have suffered damage as a result of flooding and intend to submit applications for humanitarian assistance, should ensure that they have sufficient evidence, photographic or otherwise, and adequate records of damages, cost estimates, etc., for examination by the society.
I acknowledge the strong and united support of all Oireachtas Members, particularly from Tipperary South and Wexford, as well as the assistance of our MEPs in Brussels in furthering our case for humanitarian aid.
What will happen if they do not have photographic evidence? How many people will think of taking a photograph of their house during a flood? Will they take the word of the local authority in that case?
(Limerick East): As it will take some time for the Parliament to approve any aid we will receive, people should use this time to prepare their cases as strongly as they can.