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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 1995

Vol. 455 No. 2

Written Answers. - South Galway Floods.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

110 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if a Government official will sit with a loss assessor on behalf of the South Galway Floods Action Group to hear exactly the extent of suffering among the 51 families affected, 18 of which need relocation. [12056/95]

Earlier this year, the Government secured funds amounting to approximately £260,000 from the European Union for humanitarian aid for the relief of hardship suffered by the victims of the flooding including victims in South Galway. These funds are being distributed by the Irish Red Cross Society. The society inserted advertisements in the newspapers inviting people who had suffered hardship to submit details to them.

The Government intends as an exceptional measure, in view of the unusually severe hardship caused to many people by the flooding earlier this year to make additional funds available for humanitarian relief. I will shortly make a submission to Government on the nature and extent of that package. It is intended that any funds made available will also be distributed by the Irish Red Cross Society.
There are a number of houses in the South Galway area which have suffered severe damage as a result of prolonged flooding. These have been examined by technical officers of the Office of Public Works and I expect to receive their report on the condition of the houses shortly. When I receive their report I will decide what, if any further action is open to me in relation to relocation.
My predecessor, Deputy Higgins, has had a number of meetings with the South Galway Flood Victims' Action Group at which the problems of the area were outlined. A document setting out the views of the action group in relation to the issues of compensation and relocation was given to him and to representatives of the Office of Public Works. I met representatives of the group who were accompanied by Deputies Connaughton, Kitt, Molloy, Treacy and Senator Fahey last Thursday. My officials and I are well aware at this stage of the extent of suffering among victims of the flooding in South Galway and indeed elsewhere. I have however invited the Action Group to forward the details of their losses to me. I understand the information has already been supplied to the Irish Red Cross Society. A meeting with the loss assessor can be arranged, if necessary, following receipt of the information.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

111 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance when a report on the South Galway flooding crisis last winter will be ready for publication in view of the fact that the appointment of a consultant has been delayed to July 1995. [12057/95]

There has been no unavoidable delay in the appointment of a consultant to undertake the multi-disciplinary study into the causes of and possible solutions to the unique flooding problems in South Galway.

The time allowed to consultants to submit outline proposals showing how they would undertake the proposed study was kept to the minimum which is necessary to comply with EU Regulations.
Applications to be considered for the Commission were received from thirty-one multi-disciplinary teams of consultants both Irish, British and European. All of these submissions had to be examined in detail and following completion of this examination six firms were invited to make more detailed oral presentations of their proposals.
A short-list of three firms have been invited to submit firm proposals including time-scale and costs for undertaking the proposed study. These proposals are to be submitted by 29th June. They will be considered immediately they are received and it is intended to make an appointment as early as possible.
The causes of the flooding in South Galway are unique and very complex. The area is extremely environmentally sensitive. The team appointed to undertake the proposed study must establish clearly their capacity to deal with all aspects of the problem and any potential solutions and it has therefore been necessary to follow the course of action outlined above in order to try to ensure that the best possible team of consultants is selected.
It is not possible at this stage to say when the final report and recommendations will be available. However, given the complexity of the issues involved it is likely to take some considerable time. It will be a condition of the Commission that an interim report will be submitted within 2 months.
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