We now come to deal with Private Notice Questions to the Minister for Finance on flooding. I will call on the Deputies who tabled questions to the Minister for Finance in the order in which they submitted their questions. I call Deputy Quinn.
Private Notice Questions. - Flood Relief.
asked the Minister for Finance the measures he intends to take to assist those whose homes and properties were seriously damaged by flooding on 1 February 2002, especially in the Ringsend, Irishtown and East Wall areas of Dublin; the steps being taken to prevent a recurrence of this flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
asked the Minister for Finance his plans to investigate the very serious flooding in Dublin, particularly in the Irishtown and Ringsend area; if he will introduce a Government compensation and aid package for the flood victims; the effectiveness of the emergency plan; and if he will take all necessary steps to ensure that there will be no further flooding of this area.
asked the Minister for Finance if the Government will provide a special emergency fund to compensate uninsured flood victims arising from the floods in central Dublin on Friday last; if he will ensure that Dublin City Council has all necessary resources to respond fully to people's needs in the aftermath of the flood; and if the inadequate resources available to the local authority and its inability to cope with such disasters will be carefully and critically reviewed in light of last weekend's experience.
asked the Minister for Finance to address the serious flooding in Ringsend and Irishtown; to introduce a package of measures to help those persons whose homes and property have been destroyed; to take steps to prevent a recurrence; to introduce a proper river management plan; and to examine how a properly co-ordinated emergency plan can be activated when necessary.
asked the Minister for Finance his views on the serious flooding in Foynes, County Limerick; his further views on the urgent need for the Government to introduce a package of measures to help those persons whose homes and property have been destroyed; and the steps he will take to prevent a recurrence of this incident.
I wish to express sympathy on my behalf and that of the Government to everyone affected by flooding in recent days. It has been a very traumatic time for everyone affected and was particularly serious in a number of areas in Dublin.
While it is too early to be definitive about the causes of flooding in individual locations, it is clear that an unusual combination of factors contributed to the unexpected severity and speed with which it occurred. On Friday, 1 February, we had high spring tides, gale force southerly winds, very heavy rain and a drop in atmospheric pressure. This is an infrequent combination of events.
The Government accepts that great hardship has been caused to people as a result and has decided that a humanitarian aid scheme will be made available. The Office of Public Works has been in contact with the Red Cross to implement this scheme. As on previous occasions, most recently following the flooding of November 2000, I am confident that the Red Cross will implement this scheme speedily and sympathetically. I remind the House that the scheme put in place in November 2000 was implemented very effectively. The Red Cross assessed and made payments in 447 cases within eight weeks of receipt of applications. The total amount paid out in that instance was €3.49 million. In general, the criteria used in assessing eligibility for aid are homelessness, damage to homes, serious injury, or loss of income.
I am confident that the response of relevant authorities to the flooding at the weekend was speedy and efficient. My officials in the Office of Public Works visited some of the worst affected areas on Saturday and Sunday, 2 and 3 February, to assess the extent of the damage. The resources of Dublin City Council emergency services are in place to provide an effective response to flood events. Dublin City Council decided to activate the major emergency plan to deal with the flooding of 1 February and the resources of Dublin City Council, the Garda Síochána, the Army, the Civil Defence, the Dublin Fire Brigade and the Eastern Regional Health Authority were mobilised. A co-ordinating group based in the Civic Offices allocated tasks to the various agencies and met every hour to deal with issues that arose. The group will also be involved in a review of the response of the emergency services to this flooding.
As stated earlier, the flooding in this instance appears to have been caused by a most unusual combination of factors. Notwithstanding this, the Office of Public Works is in contact with local authorities with a view to examining the precise causes of flooding in each location and to ascertain what preventative measures may be feasible. The Office of Public Works is available to provide assistance to local authorities where appropriate.
With regard to the flooding at Foynes, County Limerick, my officials in the Office of Public Works will examine the causes of the flooding in conjunction with the local authority to determine whether measures can be taken to prevent a recurrence.
It is appropriate that I should first declare an interest in this matter. My mother-in-law, who lives with us in a "granny" flat in Strand Road, was made homeless and the basement of our house was flooded in an incredibly short period. Everything happened within about an hour of my first receiving a telephone call to return home. While everyone would have liked the response of the emergency services and, in particular, Dublin City Council to have been faster, from what I saw in Irishtown on Saturday morning – I was unable to get there on Friday because I was bailing out the basement of our house – corporation officials responded as quickly as I have seen them move on previous occasions.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply, on foot of which a number of questions arise. First, the issue of poor electrification is a key problem in terms of the restoration of people to their homes. I am assured by Frank Lambe of Dublin City Council that in respect of the areas of Irishtown, Ringsend and Sandymount, those in need of alternative accommodation have been identified and that such accommodation has been found. However, a number of difficulties are bound to arise. For example, if people do not have insurance on their houses – sadly, many of them do not – and the wiring therein is substandard, the ESB cannot reconnect the power supply. The people in question will not be in a position to pay for the installation by electrical contractors of modern wiring systems in their houses. Accordingly, their power supply cannot be reconnected and they will not be able to return home.
My next question to the Minister of State refers to the Red Cross fund. In terms of the management of that fund, is there a precedent to allow people who are not insured, who have substandard electrical wiring in their homes and who, consequently, cannot have the power supply reconnected to proceed to employ contractors to upgrade their wiring? Alternatively, will Dublin City Council – in most cases, the houses in question are former local authority dwellings – be in a position to employ contractors to upgrade the wiring and be reimbursed for doing so? If that is the case, I am informed by Dublin City Council officials that they will then be able, quickly and collectively, to deal with this matter.
I agree with the Deputy that, notwithstanding the speed of what occurred, the emergency services – our initial assessments uphold this – worked extremely hard and took quick action. What happened was most unexpected. The specific point raised by the Deputy is contemplated by what I stated earlier, particularly my comments on damage to homes being covered.
Deputy Quinn raised a particular question about electrical wiring in some of the houses in question. Dublin City Council has also identified this problem. We will work with the council in respect of this matter and action will have to be taken quickly because our efforts will be for nothing if people cannot return to their homes. Proper wiring will have to be installed, particularly in view of the dangers involved. We will be working with the council to ensure that this matter is dealt with as quickly as possible.
I emphasise that the success of the Red Cross in matters of this nature has been its ability to deal with each individual householder and his or her needs in a fast and efficient manner. I was amazed that it dealt with the whole country albeit there were bulk areas in Wicklow, the last time. In eight weeks from the date of receipt of application all the money had been given out. It was a remarkably quick turnaround. Deputy Quinn in particular would understand that. I have absolute confidence in the Red Cross. We have been talking to members of the Red Cross over the weekend and yesterday. I confirm to the House that the formal meeting resulting from the Government decision will take place tomorrow morning. The Red Cross has prepared well in the past 24 hours to deal with this.
I welcome the aid package. However, does the Minister of State accept that given the current trend of flooding, in particular related to global warming, there will be at some stage a recurrence of this flooding? Does he accept, therefore, that it is necessary to build adequate sea defences in this area? Does he realise, for instance, that Stella Gardens is below the level of the river and for that reason is susceptible, and that on the other side of Derrynane Gardens a wall has been built so that the water has only one way to go and that is into this very vulnerable area? Is he further aware that if people claim against their insurance for damage caused by flooding they will not be covered for such damage in the future and that, therefore, it is imperative that a proper wall or defence be built? Will the Minister of State give a commitment to the House that such a proper defence will be built as a matter of urgency?
While we all congratulate the hard work of everyone involved in the clean-up on Friday and Saturday, does the Minister of State accept there were certain deficiencies in the emergency plan, which should be reviewed? There was a need for a co-ordinated effort and central control that did not materialise. People were going from one place to the next and were unsure what to do, and this gave rise to a certain amount of anger among people in the area. Will the Minister of State carry out a review of the emergency plan and return to this House with information about what went right and what deficiencies there were so that in future we will be better prepared for such an eventuality?
The Deputy will appreciate that we cannot debate here what new defences might be put in place. It would be unrealistic and wrong to do so. Further, the Deputy will be aware that immediate remedial work must be carried out in certain areas. My colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy Eoin Ryan, has visited the area, as have many of the Deputies in the House today, and he has briefed me at first hand on the extent of the difficulties, which must be rectified quickly. We are in consultation with the local authority to ensure it is done quickly and efficiently.
The bigger question the Deputy raises is whether it is possible to identify the causes so that a scheme could be put in place that would prevent a recurrence. Because this was so sudden and happened in such an incredibly short space of time, we just do not know at this stage. That will be a long process. However, we are talking to the local authorities and will work with them to identify causes. For the information of the House, the figure relating to the tide was very startling. The highest tide ever recorded was in 1924 and was 5.10 metres. The tide on Friday last was 5.46 metres, a substantial increase on that in 1924.
That was combined with the wind factor, which aggravated it.
It was a combination of factors. On all the issues in the Deputy's question, the answer is "yes". I cannot say what the solution will be, but the Deputy probably misinterpreted some of the figures and it would be very helpful if he would correct some of what he put out in a statement yesterday about moneys not being available, which caused grave concern to local residents.
I did not say that.
It was quoted on teletext. I remember trying to read it.
I did not make any such statement.
I am not trying to start an argument with the Deputy. The Deputy was quoted. If it was a misunderstanding, I will give the benefit of the doubt to those who put it out. It has been clarified now.
Arising from the Minister of State's reply, did officials from the Office of Public Works visit the East Wall and North Strand areas? I ask because the national media in general and RTE in particular do not appear to have been aware that communities in East Wall, North Strand, Abercorn Road, Shamrock Cottages, right along the north side were very badly affected with in excess of 200 houses destroyed by the floodwaters. I want to establish that the Minister of State and his officials are aware of that.
I agree with the Minister of State that there was no shortage of effort and that the emergency services worked very hard on Saturday in the aftermath of the flood, as Deputy Quinn said. There was a co-ordinated response and great initiative was shown by the officials. However, I was at Shamrock Cottages at 2.00 p.m. on Friday, as was the Taoiseach, and the local authority seemed to be inadequately resourced to deal with the immediate effects of the flood. Even items such as sandbags were almost non-existent for several hours. There appeared to be no resources and certainly no plan to deal with the initial effects as people's houses were progressively flooded. I am not criticising the efforts of city council officials or the emergency services. The effort, the willingness and the initiative were there. Anything that was done was done on the immediate initiative of officials and not in response to any well laid out and co-ordinated plan. That is why I am asking the Minister of State to look into that and critically and carefully examine what resources are available so that proper steps can be taken to rectify matters should such an event occur again.
The area between Spencer Dock was the special responsibility of the Office of Public Works for a long time. Will the Minister of State have the area between Spencer Dock and the Liffey, and Newcommen Bridge and North Strand surveyed immediately to see what measures can be put in place to make a recurrence of this flooding less likely? CIE demolished walls in that area. Shamrock Cottages would not have been flooded but for the fact that CIE had demolished a wall and left in place a ramshackle gate through which a river of floodwater flowed down a slope and wiped out a whole community. It was like a ghost town that evening. Every family, elderly people and single people, had to leave and go into emergency accommodation. That was the direct result of CIE's negligence. Some of the other breaches where walls collapsed and the East Wall area was flooded seemed to be not simply the result of the force of the flood waters but the result of gates being left open on a huge expanse of railway in that area that could have contained the waters. In addition, walls were in very poor condition and collapsed easily, contributing to the flooding of the area. Measures can be put in place, not to provide against further flooding but to make it less likely and to give people and emergency services time to respond. I ask that the Minister of State put in place measures to respond to those issues.
Is the Minister of State aware that even people who are insured and have money for temporary accommodation are finding it difficult to rent suitable accommodation? Will he ensure that whatever measures are necessary will be taken? If it is necessary for the local authority to lease apartment blocks to provide immediate, proper and adequate accommodation, will he ensure those measures are taken urgently?
The Deputy has raised a range of issues, all of which are important but not all of which necessarily come within my area of responsibility. On the first point he raised with regard to whether there was an Office of Public Works presence, I confirm that my director of engineering services was present at the particular location, as was the Taoiseach and others. To avoid confusion, we are not part of the emergency response team. I thank my officials who were very proactive and left their homes to go to work immediately, not just in Dublin, but throughout the country where flooding took place. That was very helpful in getting first-hand information back into the system. The Spencer Dock area is now the responsibility of Waterways Ireland with which we will be in contact. There are things which semi-State companies, private companies and local authorities can do on a regular basis, which would not take up much resources and would help enormously when it comes to sudden events such as occurred last weekend. I encourage them to do them.
Deputies made a number of points with regard to the ability of emergency teams to respond in such situations. There is a full review taking place of how the emergency services came together in dealing with the problem. There is no system that is perfect and if there are flaws, they will be identified. When people find themselves in a sudden panic situation, as is implicit in what Deputies and the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy Eoin Ryan, have said, perhaps it would be helpful if a mobile information unit could be quickly put in place in order that they have a central point to which they can go for imparting or receiving information. That is one of the lessons that has been learned from the weekend's events. I take the Minister of State, Deputy Eoin Ryan's point in that regard.
An amphibious helicopter would have been needed to make a landing.
Obviously the unit would not be put in the middle of the flood. However, somewhere adjacent would be preferable in order that people would know there was a place to which they could go. I know that Deputy Quinn jests because it was such a serious and deep flood. Nevertheless, the point has validity.
The local authority of which Deputy Quinn is a member is making its own major assessment of how this has gone, and the resources it needs. It will make that assessment after which it will talk to the Department of the Environment and Local Government. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, is responsible for that area and I am sure what needs to be done will be done. Considering the immediacy of the need, my Depart ment is on full alert and fully involved with the local authority.
I welcome the humanitarian aid fund. I am delighted it is being set up as it will be a source of great relief for many. What is the budget allocated to it and what will it cover? One had to see the devastation to believe it. People's homes have been wiped out with all their contents gone; people have lost their cars with baby-seats and other items. It has been very traumatic. One woman told me poignantly that the only item she had been able to save was a wedding album. People will want to know how they can access the fund and how the assessment will be done. Any information the Minister of State can give us will be helpful. Leaflet drops in affected areas worked well. How will the details of the fund be communicated to people living in Ringsend and Irishtown? I ask that this be done as soon as possible.
On the broader issues, does the Minster of State believe that a river management plan is necessary for the Dublin area, and there is a need, as I believe there is, for ongoing monitoring of defences along the rivers in question? This has not been done adequately and we need such a plan to be put in place.
In relation to emergency planning at local and national level, it is clear from what we saw at the weekend that there are certain deficiencies. One could not fault the individual efforts of members of the local authority, as colleagues have said. People have made enormous individual efforts, but it is clear there is a lack of co-ordination. It seems, although the local authorities, Garda and health boards are available, the central co-ordination of services remains an outstanding problem. This is reflected in the fact that it has taken a number of days to provide a central location where people can go to be informed as to exactly what is going on.
We must realise that any emergency situation is very traumatic, emotions are high and people are confused. We should have a better co-ordinated centralised plan and get the best out of the emergency services which did very well in difficult circumstances. I understand there is no statutory underpinning for a centralised element as we saw during the flooding. I would like the Minister of State to comment on this. It is an issue for the future. It is Ringsend, Irishtown, Foynes and other parts of the country that are in the news today, but this is a key underlying issue in relation to how we cope with emergencies.
On the Deputy's last point, it was centralised at the Dublin Corporation offices. That is where the central headquarters was located and all the information decisions—
I meant at local level.
I am aware of that. However, we cannot have a number of centres. There are only so many people who make the key decisions. I cannot have them everywhere. From my experience of seeing flooding at first hand in Clonmel, what looks at first like a disjointed and unco-ordinated effort is not necessarily so. I had that feeling in Clonmel when flooding occurred very quickly and I was able to get there to see it for myself. However, when I spoke to those working with the various services involved, they knew precisely what they were doing, where the resources were and what was needed. I was not in Dublin last weekend, but the information that has come back to me from the Minister, Deputies and my officials is that there was co-ordination, although this may not have been apparent in some cases.
The question of resources was raised by Deputies. It will be looked at in the review. With regard to the budget, I do not have a specific figure and do not know what the budget will be, but it will be in keeping with similar funding provided in the past. Once I receive the assessment of the Red Cross of needs I will issue funding. I do not receive information on individual cases. That is a matter between individuals and the Red Cross. I simply receive the global figure from the Red Cross and issue funding directly to it to be distributed on an individual basis. This has worked extremely well and removes politicians from the equation which, in a sense, is a good thing because people have great confidence in the honesty, integrity and neutrality of the Red Cross. I did not receive one complaint about the previous scheme, which is a great credit to the Red Cross. This will be done immediately.
In the next few days the Red Cross will advertise in the newspapers; the areas most affected are covered by local radio which the Red Cross may also use. Forms, as previously, will be available from local Garda stations, community welfare offices, health agencies, local authorities and charitable organisations such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Red Cross. There will be massive coverage. People will have quick and easy access to application forms in order that there can be a quick response.
I do not know whether a major river management plan is needed for the River Liffey. In the overall sense, questions arise following the events of last weekend at which we will look in our discussions with the relevant local authorities. However, I caution the House that these are not quick assessments. It is not something that can be done in one week or one month. There is much detail that must be gone through before we come up with anything and this will take time. However, I am sure consideration will be given to these matters.
I wish to shift the focus from Dublin from where I saw the scenes dramatically relayed by television. Foynes did not feature on television but I have an interest in what happened there because one of the people affected was my mother, along with many others. It was not the first time that Foynes has been subject to flooding and the problem for some people is that they do not have indefinite cover from insurance companies if there is flooding – the premium shoots up or they withdraw cover.
I saw what happened and the trauma it caused for people who had the contents of their houses ruined. I compliment the local fire service and local authorities for their response. Not only did they pump water from people's houses, they helped to remove sodden carpets and other items. The community responded by telling those affected to go elsewhere while they tidied the house.
The problem remains afterwards, however. Anyone who has seen the effects of flooding on the inside of the house, who has experienced the smell as it dries, and the trauma it causes to those it affects, will welcome the quick reaction. While any assessment will take time to find out about insurance cover and the damage done, it will have to be carried out as quickly as possible. Many people will have to return to those houses. In such situations, something must be done to put down floor covering and to help settle affairs with the insurance companies. Prompt action is required.
In Foynes the scale is less than that in Ringsend – there are 12 or 13 units affected – but this is not the first time the area has been flooded. An embankment at the back at the houses in Foynes was removed as a result of land reclamation even though it was a natural barrier. Now when the pier overflows, the water flows over the railway line, through the houses and into the main street. I ask the Minister of State as a priority to get the Office of Public Works, in conjunction with the local authority, to look at the situation. Shannon Foynes Port Company must also have a long-term responsibility to put measures in place to ensure this does not happen again.
I know the Minister of State's attention is focused on the situation in Dublin but I seek reassurance about his intentions for Foynes.
I have not forgotten about Foynes or other areas around the State. I am dealing with those Deputies who have raised questions this afternoon. We are in consultation with the local authority in Foynes and we will see if there are measures that can be taken to prevent a recurrence. This is not the first time this has happened in Foynes but I do not know if anything can be done immediately. We are talking to the local authority and if a scheme is put forward, we will examine it. At present I cannot say any more except that we are as concerned about Foynes as about anywhere else. This is not a Dublin issue, it is a national issue, although it was the first time this happened in such an unexpected manner in the capital city.
I acknowledge the excellent work of the Red Cross in the previous compensation package. In spite of some people's oppo sition at the time, it worked out well and I hope the same procedure is put in place again.
The Minister of State will remember that a year ago we were talking about flooding in Wicklow and Clonmel. This time an area of Arklow was flooded. Last year, funding was allocated for some areas in Wicklow – Avoca, Baltinglass and Aughrim. Work has been carried out in Aughrim but in Avoca and Baltinglass it has not because of a lack of liaison between the local authority and the fisheries board. Perhaps the Minister of State could mention this to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources to see if anything can be done. A year after the last discussions, while money has been allocated, nothing has been done.
The Minister of State met a deputation from the local authority and local flood action group in Arklow and funding was put aside for a consultant's report. Nothing has happened since. Can the Minister of State give an indication when the report will be finalised and will he indicate to me that he will implement its recommendations? Given that there has been another incident of flooding in the area, does he agree it is imperative that the consultant comes forward with a report as soon as possible, even on an interim basis, and that something is done? The people of the area believe they have been forgotten about. I do not know how long it took to build the Great Wall of China but it has taken a long time to solve the flooding problem in Arklow.
I thank the Minister of State for his positive response to the provision of humanitarian aid. Will he offer an assurance that it will include householders in Arklow and Bray who were flooded?
It will be State-wide.
There is problem upstream from Avoca, at the White Bridge, in relation to dredging. The area may not be included in the work currently under way to prevent flooding but a sand bank there must be removed and it should be done while the work is being carried out.
There were wry smiles when there was flooding in Bray because a major coastal protection scheme costing millions of euro had been put in place, on the advice of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. It was not the most popular scheme in Bray on aesthetic grounds, but it was carried out by the Department for the town council. At the southern end of the sea front, however, even after the beach was provided, a number of houses were flooded. It is hard for people to understand how that happened after so much money had been spent.
I am now concerned that the southern end of the promenade could be undermined in a way that has not happened previously. I ask that proposals from the town council, particularly for the extension of a low wall, be included in any package – not as a long-term, final measure, but to protect householders and businesses who were affected by these unprecedented but not necessarily unique events.
The Deputy mentioned the coastal erosion scheme being run by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. If local authorities come to us with suggestions, we will look at them. We have already given the local authorities funds to carry out a number of schemes. They have spent some of the money but Deputy Timmins is right – they have funds that they have been unable to spend because they are trying to find agreement between local groups. That frustrates all of us and we urge them to find consensus.
The UDC in Arklow has engaged consultants and we are paying for the report. We expect it within a month, a reasonably short time frame since it was commissioned, and we will make assessments and contact the local authority. It may appear that very little has happened but we are coming to the end of a detailed process of analysis.
I draw the attention of the Minister of State to flooding that occurred in Ballylongford village last week. More than 15 families were affected, with some of them being forced to leave their houses. It has happened in the past, but not to the extent of last Friday. The local residents are very concerned that action is taken to ensure there is no recurrence.
I visited the scene of the flooding and the extent of the damage is terrifying. A number of other locations in the country also suffered damage, but in County Kerry, Ballylongford was the worst affected. The village is low lying on the banks of the River Shannon. It has been threatened in the past with flooding, but on this occasion the situation was very serious. The local residents are deeply concerned.
A number of businesses were affected, including a butcher's shop. I saw the cold rooms that were destroyed and a number of other premises, including public houses and a solicitor's office. Will the Minister of State ask his officials in the Office of Public Works to undertake a report on Ballylongford? I saw a number of sluices over which I am sure he has responsibility. They were not operating properly.
A question for the Minister of State.
Will the Minister of State ask the Office of Public Works to contact Kerry County Council and ask it to at least provide skips for people to enable them remove carpets and furniture? I understand the county council is refusing to do so.
We will consult the relevant local authority covering Ballylongford on the question of assistance or advice. If it emerges that some thing can be done for the future, we will assist the authority in that regard. I am sure the Deputy has contacted his local authority on the question of providing skips and so on. People in such circumstances are very distressed and it is important that local authorities present a caring face and assures them that help will be provided. This is the position on the involvement of the Red Cross.
I thank you, Sir, for allowing these questions. With regard to the contractual bills for electricians involved in repairing or upgrading the electrical wiring in houses, most, but not all of which are former local authority dwellings where there was not and is not insurance, will the Minister of State clarify whether the money will come out of the general fund administered by the Red Cross or indicate to which Department should Dublin Corporation apply? Can the corporation proceed to contract the work in advance of payment? Can the Minister of State's word, in effect, stand as a commitment in principle to funding?
I am happy to give that to the Deputy and it is important to clarify the point. It may affect a block of houses. We will immediately resolve this with the local authority. I cannot be specific and say what fund will be utilised, but the matter will be addressed tonight.
The Minister of State referred to the Red Cross administering a fund in November 2000 and I am delighted to hear there were no complaints. There is a sensitive situation between those who were and were not insured. According to the information I have been given on a number of occasions those insured who claim will lose their cover. I see the Minister of State is shaking his head, but Deputy Quinn and I attended a meeting where an insurance expert advised me of this. I hope the Minister of State will clarify this aspect. Those who are not insured will, I hope, benefit from the Red Cross scheme, but they will then be able to insure their houses. This peculiar situation could lead to tension. I seek clarification on this point as it is one about which I am constantly asked.
Cars are not covered for flood damage. Some use their cars for their businesses and they are in immediate need of a replacement. Will they be covered by this fund and what happened previously in this regard?
One such person was a taxi driver.
I know of two taxi drivers who have lost their businesses as a consequence of the flooding. I repeat my praise for those involved in the salvage efforts. Will the Minister of State undertake an objective assessment of the emergency plan and return to the House with his findings? Some aspects of the plan worked, but there were also deficiencies. There is a need to examine this.
There is an objective assessment of the emergency plan, but it is under the aegis of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. I will not, therefore, be in a position to report back to the House, but the Deputy can raise the issue with him. It would be wrong to make generalisations from what the Deputy has said. While I cannot speak about specific cases, I have no sense or experience of a blanket change in approach.
There is slight confusion in the House on the question of insurance cover and I do not want it to spread. I have put in place a humanitarian aid fund which will cover everybody. Individual circumstances differ, for example, it does not necessarily mean that those with insurance cover are automatically excluded. I am aware of an old age pension couple with a small level of insurance cover which will not restore their loss. I do not exclude anybody from the fund. Hardship suffered is taken into account, including, for example, those who have lost their businesses, such as the taxi driver referred to by Deputy Quinn. Those who consider themselves to be in need can apply to the fund, following which an individual confidential assessment will be made by an official from the Red Cross, on which basis funding will be provided.
I appreciate the Minister of State may not have direct responsibility for a number of the issues I have raised, but I am anxious he refers them to the relevant Minister and that within a reasonable timescale other Members and I will get answers to the issues we have raised. Perhaps the Minister of State will indicate such a timescale. I appreciate that a number of elements, such as surveys, will take time to expedite, but many can be speedily addressed. I am concerned to hear the Minister of State say his officials will contact Waterways Ireland. I would have hoped contact has already been made and that the body is assessing the issues I have raised.
I do not want to understate the effort or initiative shown by officials in their response to the flooding, nor the hours they have put in to addressing the problems that have arisen. Some of them have worked without sleep. I am concerned at the emergency plan. The flood started shortly after 1 p.m. in the North Strand area. I would have thought in any emergency plan the media would have a role in guiding people and that the media would be made aware of the situation. At 4 p.m. that afternoon I listened to RTE News, the main point of which related to the difficulties of Deputy Liam Lawlor, while the homes of hundreds of people in the centre of the capital were under four or five feet of water. I rang RTE's news desk to let it know and it changed its priorities very quickly. If the emergency group was in operation in the Civic Offices, I would have thought it might have been in contact with RTE to inform it of the enormity of what was happening and to give some direction and guidance to people because they were at a loss. Will the Minister of State ensure the plan is reviewed urgently, carefully and critically.
The plan is being reviewed urgently and critically. While I told the Deputy earlier that my officials would be in contact with various bodies I was simply responding in general to the point he has made. Any points raised today will be conveyed to those bodies. That is not to say we are not involved with those bodies already, of course we are. Waterways Ireland has been on Spencer Dock with its own people. If I gave the wrong impression, that was not my intention. Obviously those discussions and liaisons will continue. In the context of what happened, the Department would urge an objective critical review of the services. I am happy to confirm that is happening because there are, obviously, issues involved that need to be improved upon. I am pleased that all Members have acknowledged the individual effort made by so many people in Civil Defence, the fire brigade service, the Garda, the local authorities and my Department. However, the point being made is on the question of resources and how one conveys this and if it was as good as it should be. There appears to be some question mark in this area and it is legitimate to raise those points. There are issues which relate specifically to Dublin for which immediate remedial works will be required. I have no doubt about that and we are working with the local authorities to ensure that is done. There is also the wider and long-term picture.
I thank Deputies for the manner in which they have handled this issue. It is important when people are in distress that we are calm about what we are doing. In respect of giving and eliciting information, hope I have given the House information. I thank my officials for all their efforts over the weekend and, in particular, my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy Ryan, who kept me briefed by 'phone over the weekend and today.
I agree with the Minister of State that assessment should be based on individual need rather than differentiating between those who are insured and those who are not insured because a whole range of factors come into play. Will the Minister of State clarify if the humanitarian fund will cover house contents and cars, based on individual need? Will he liaise with the Department of Health and Children given that there are health concerns in the area about the water and the sewage that flows through? People are concerned about the implications of this, how they should handle it and what they should do when they go back into their homes. They have raised the matter at individual level but it needs a more structured response.
The Environmental Protection Agency and health organisations are already involved and this has been confirmed by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Ryan.
On a previous occasion I asked the Minister to consider preparing a register of hot spots so that areas around the country which are given to flooding would appear on a local authority register and in the event of heavy rain or bad weather that they would be called upon as a priority. I have in mind places such as the river Poddle at Poddle Park and Ravensdale Close in Kimmage where there is a sluice gate. Once the water gets heavy the gate is blocked with litter. The water rises on to the road, a plateau on the road forms a dam and the problem gets worse. That area could be one to be included in a register. I ask the Minister of State to ask the local authorities to prepare a register of hot spots so that in the event of heavy rainfalls they can take preventative measures. At some stage, perhaps the Minister of State would inform me of what progress is made with the local authorities?
This is an important issue, on which much work has been done in the past 12 months to two years. What the Deputy is pointing out is the flood risk mapping question. This is not alone an historical record but may predict into the future and it would be helpful to local authorities in regard to the whole issue of planning. Assembling the information is a complex task. We have had much discussion and assistance and information filtering in to us. We will probably take an area of the country and carry out a specific pilot scheme to see whether it measures up, because serious questions arise in regard to insurance potential, flood costs, local authorities etc. when something like this is done. I confirm that is a live issue in the office, it is being dealt with and we want to get it completed. It is a complex matter. We are in the middle of it. We will have a process but it is not a short-term matter.