The impact of the flooding continues to be devastating for many households, farmers and communities across the countries and there have been many complaints about a basic lack of preparedness for events of this kind. It is fair to say that storms and floods of this ferocity are happening with greater frequency and we need to prepare better as a country for such events. We need to respond better and to accelerate urgently, in particular, the installation of flood relief protection schemes across the country. In short, we need a comprehensive, co-ordinated and sustainable response and there have been many complaints across the country that it is not there. Bandon and Ballinasloe, in particular, stand out. Ballinasloe was told that the 2009 flood was a once in 100 year event and they now know that is not the case. We learned yesterday that the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, has sought a 15-strong expert long-range flood warning unit within Met Éireann at a cost of €2.5 million but the obvious question is, "Why not 12 months or two years ago?" The Taoiseach himself stated in 2012 that such a unit was needed and clearly it was not done.

The Taoiseach should up his game.

The biggest issue where we really need a game-changer in terms of policy change is in insurance cover for flood risk areas. It is a key issue for businesses, homes and farmers. This is the fourth time since 2009 that flooding of this nature has occurred and many are no longer insured or cannot get any insurance.

In 2013, the United Kingdom Government, along with the insurance sector, agreed to develop a not-for-profit scheme, Flood Re, to allow flood insurance to remain widely affordable and available while allowing a sustainable transition to risk-reflective pricing over 25 years.

A question, please.

That was followed up by the Water Act 2014 which put legislative flesh on that bone. The UK Government's preferred option was to ensure the continued availability of flood insurance to households at risk of flooding across the United Kingdom, and it responded in kind. The fundamental question is if this Government has had any engagement with the insurance sector on such a scheme and if it will now commit to replicating the UK Government's approach to insurance in flood areas which would reflect the proactive, co-ordinated and comprehensive response that I mentioned earlier.

Clearly, the impact of a flood in any household or business is devastating. As everybody will be aware, it ruins property and destroys people's care and attention and pride for their houses and businesses. That goes without saying.

The situation has brought about an enormous community response. For its part, the national co-ordination committee has been meeting for the past number of weeks. The warning was relayed in good time in this case and there had been a co-ordination of community, Civil Defence, Garda, local authorities, Office of Public Works and others, and now the Irish Red Cross, visible all over the country in terms of the assistance that is being given.

The latest is that the Defence Forces have responded to all requests received from the principal response agencies. That has involved a deployment to eight counties comprising over 200 Army personnel, 34 vehicles and an Air Corps helicopter. The Minister of State, Deputy Harris, is available to speak about the issues of the past, the immediate response and the projections for the future in terms of schemes under construction, schemes under design and the timescales envisaged in all of these. The Minister of State goes to Bandon next week. I expect he will bring the Irish Red Cross personnel with him-----

He should go to Galway as well.

I will.

-----have a meeting with the business people in Bandon-----

He should come to Kerry as well.

-----and talk about the issues there. Obviously, as Deputy Martin will be aware, there were legal objections to the tendering process. Those are now cleared and the funding is in place for that scheme to go ahead in 2016, and I expect that to be adhered to. I expect the Minister of State to travel to other locations, including Galway and Crossmolina, the week after to bring the projected designs for what is envisaged there, meet the people and discuss what can happen now and for the medium term.

I thank the Taoiseach.

The Government yesterday made a decision to put €5 million upfront in respect of the business premises that are flooded and within the context of the Office of Public Works flood areas. The Department of Defence is co-ordinating this with the Irish Red Cross. That is actually happening today and I hope that there will be a structure in place that will allow-----

We would want detailed planning.

-----for prompt payments to be made here based on assessments of the damage. Clearly, with the Shannon continuing to rise, and other difficulties for bridges, roads, etc., there are issues that cannot be assessed until it clears.

Finally, I am aware of the situation in Britain. Flood Re is a not-for-profit operation. It has been focused on by the British Government for quite some time. I am not sure-----

I am sorry, we are over time.

-----whether it is as successful as people might have imagined but it is something that we would like to look at here. Business people who had insurance or who did not have insurance, even behind flood defences where they are working in Clonmel, Mallow or Fermoy, still cannot get insurance, and obviously that is an issue. That is why in this case we would like €5 million to be made available for businesses that have been flooded and have had this brought to them shortly before Christmas.

I mean no disrespect, but the Taoiseach's reply confirms my basic point about the lack of preparation, urgency and any co-ordinated and comprehensive response. The centrepiece of my question was an insurance scheme similar to that introduced by the United Kingdom with the British insurance sector which would provide long-term sustainable insurance cover for households, families and businesses in flood risk areas. Despite the fact that we have had increasing storms of greater severity than we have ever had previously more regularly, all the Taoiseach can say now is that he would like to look at it. I asked if the Taoiseach has engaged with the insurance sector on such a scheme for Ireland and why we have not seen it. The legislation was passed in 2014.

On the Minister of State's watch.

That is the Bill.

Would Deputy Martin put his question, please?

That is the legislation. The point is the British Government went at this much earlier than anything we have seen from this Government.

It is too late to go to Bandon next week. The Minister of State will be welcome, of course.

That is a disgraceful statement.

In the meantime, could you put your question?

My point is that the flooding has happened. It is disgraceful that the flood relief scheme was not in place. The problem is-----

It is not the problem; it is your question.

The Deputy is playing politics with a national emergency. Does he want us to be like Bertie Ahern with his wellies?

Deputy Harris's remarks are facetious. The people who were flooded feel that had the flood relief scheme been put in place two years ago, they would not have experienced what they experienced last week. While we can quote the legal issues, there was a lack of urgency about getting it in place.

There was a lack of urgency ten years ago.

The other schemes were done before the Government's time. Is the Taoiseach committed to working through the flood insurance and a scheme similar to that in the UK? Does he accept that legislation must be enacted regarding it? It is a good idea and makes sense in the long term.

Put on your wellies and get down there.

Yes, the Government remains committed to dealing with it in the short, medium and longer term.

The very long term.

As Deputy Martin is well aware, the Government has allocated €1 billion over the next ten years to flood relief works in 300 locations throughout the country.

The Government is to spend less next year.

The Deputy is not expecting me to say the Government should have gone ahead and put the flood works into the Bandon despite the fact that there was a legal objection going through the courts system. Even the Deputy knows this well. It was a disgraceful comment for the Deputy to say the business people and householders should not be visited by the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW.

Hear, hear.

I did not say that at all.

Yes, the Deputy did. He said there was no point.

I said it was too late. The Taoiseach has a habit of making up stories. It is another made-up story, a bit like the Army and the ATMs.

It is a bit like Santa Claus. We will have it on St. Patrick's Day.

It is unfair. The Taoiseach should stop acting like a sleeveen. It is too serious for that.

Deputy Martin is playing politics with it for notice. A red card for it.