25 Feabh 2013, 14:37
The Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht will continues its hearings on the impact of flooding on communities around the country when it meets with the Irish Rural Dwellers Association tomorrow, Tuesday, 26th February, 2013.
As well as considering the difficulties in obtaining home insurance for properties in areas that have experienced extreme weather events, the Committee will also discuss measures to empower rural communities to achieve growth and sustainability with the association.
Cathaoirleach of the Committee Michael McCarthy TD said: “The problems people are experiencing with flooding and the impact of extreme weather on our communities will form a key part of the Committee’s agenda in coming months. Over the past number of years, a number of areas in the country have experienced extreme and increasingly frequent weather events, particularly flooding. For many communities and families, the trauma caused by flooding continues as they are now facing insurance problems. As well as facing the costs of repairing damage to their properties and replacing destroyed contents, there is the further problem of having the region in which they live categorised as a high flood risk area. Tomorrow we will have an opportunity to consider this issue in more detail with the Irish Rural Dwellers Association and get the perspective of their representatives on how flooding and other weather events are impacting people in rural Ireland and what measures they would like to see introduced to help alleviate the problems people are suffering.”
This meeting will start in Committee Room 4, Leinster House at 2.15pm tomorrow, Tuesday 26th February 2013.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/
Media enquiries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie
Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht
Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Luke Flanagan TD (Independent); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD; Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).
Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).