Communities in various parts of the State have been devastated in the wake of Storm Desmond with extensive flooding to homes and businesses. Earlier this morning, I read yesterday's transcript, which showed that 17 Government and Opposition Deputies from across the State raised the concerns of their communities in counties Westmeath, Roscommon, Cork, Kerry, Laois, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Donegal. With respect, the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, will have to visit more than just Bandon. There are many counties and communities to be visited during the coming weeks. Despite the increased risk and frequency of flooding in recent years, the Government is not taking it seriously. In the 2016 budget, the Government cut the OPW's risk management programme by 25%, or €15.6 million. Although the Government's PR machine has been out talking about €15 million in flood relief, €10 million of it was already there. Only €5 million is new money, although the Government has cut €15.6 million from the programme for this year.

We have asked the Taoiseach several times whether the Government would introduce a special State-funded package for householders and businesses in areas of high flood risk but who, through no fault of their own, cannot obtain insurance. Will he address it? The Taoiseach avoided answering Deputy Martin's question on it. Will the Taoiseach examine the issue of the OPW's risk management programme and put resources into it again? Will he ensure it has the resources and energy to fast-track the programmes? It has been there since 2011, almost five years. Will the Taoiseach send a message to the communities in the west about the Government's plan regarding insurance and addressing the cutbacks in next year's budget?

I do not know where the Deputy has been since this happened or who has been briefing him. He should be aware that the Government is providing €430 million for flood risk over the next six years. There are flood relief works under construction and at design stage. The Deputy understands that major flood relief schemes must go through a planning process and take many factors into account, including hydrological surveys. We cannot just move in with our bulldozers and announce what we are going to do. The humanitarian scheme that has existed since 2012 has €10 million allocated to it and the community welfare officers on the ground are entitled to go to the affected houses and discuss with the people whether their houses are habitable or whether they have to move out, and provide the basic cash for items such as beds, clothes and fridges. This is available now and is happening today as we speak. The Department of Defence is co-ordinating the response strategy to put a structure in place with the Red Cross in order that effective payments can be made to small businesses that have been flooded and their Christmas destroyed by the force of nature. Deputy Martin seems to think we can deal with this as it happens.

It is the opposite.

The reason the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, was talking about flood warning systems is that we do not have one and rely instead on European statistics. Other countries can define ten to 15 minutes in advance what is going to happen. We need this.

We have local knowledge.

Tell the Minister to put on his wellies and get down there.

In 2014, the memorandum of understanding was signed between the OPW and the insurance companies so the sharing of information about flood warnings and the impact of it can be factored into the commercial decisions to be made by the insurance industry. It is not as simple as the companies saying they will provide insurance regardless of whether a premises has flood defences. Many other issues must be dealt with. As the Deputy knows, even when the flood relief works are in place, in some cases the water meets a high tide, backs up through the shores and goes behind the walls and up through the houses. These are physical and geographical limitations and challenges as to what must be done. In Mallow, Clonmel, Ennis and Fermoy the defences have worked well. A capital programme has been laid out for the next ten years and €1 billion is allocated to it, with €430 million over the next six years. The list is there, if the Deputy cares to read it. Reliefs are under construction and at design stage. I object to Deputy Martin saying it is not worthwhile for the Minister of State responsible to go the areas and meet the people affected. The Minister of State, Deputy Harris, will do it.

I did not say it. I said he was welcome. The Taoiseach is telling lies.

Time was when we could not get a Minister from that outfit over there to go anywhere, when they were firing money at every single problem. For Westmeath, Athlone, Ballinasloe, Donegal, Castlefin, Crossmolina and all the other places, the Minister of State will deal with as many as he can.

He will come after the event. That is the problem. He goes every five years.

What is important is to have a structure that is effective, for the Government to put money in place and let us see how effectively we can make payments before Christmas.

As I said, yesterday 17 Government and Opposition Deputies spoke. Nobody has a monopoly on concern about this issue that affects communities across the west. The Deputies pointed out practical issues regarding the maintenance and cleaning of rivers and issues around CFRAM's flood risk management. The Taoiseach is very familiar with County Donegal. While Deputies spoke about flooding for the second time in six years, people in the Finn Valley area, south Donegal and west Donegal had flooding for the second time in weeks. Businesses, community centres and homes that had cleared out the damage from the previous flood a few weeks ago, in very traumatic circumstances, were back at it again. They thought they might have had amelioration measures in place. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. While all of us in the Houses are concerned, unfortunately, what we are doing is not working.

Will the Taoiseach address in a real, tangible way the issue of homes that cannot get insurance? Will he ensure there are resources around flood risk assessment plans to reassure businesses and communities that the resources will be fast tracked to the OPW? Excellent issues, such as the maintenance of rivers, were raised. The Taoiseach should read through the transcripts of the contributions by all Deputies yesterday, Government and Opposition. They are at the front line speaking to the heroic people who worked in our emergency services, Defence Forces, local authorities and communities and got the proposals to put to the Taoiseach. I know the Minister of State will read the transcripts and take on board the issues that were raised.

Can we send a collective message to those citizens from these Houses that such issues will be addressed as best we can within our powers?

The answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". That is what is happening at the moment. As I have said, there is a memorandum of understanding between the OPW and the insurance companies. They meet as needs be. Information is shared so that it can be factored into the commercial decisions being made by insurance companies. As new houses built after 2009 and small businesses are excluded from the British system, I do not think such a model would be suitable for this country. This issue needs to be looked at. I agree that minor works can be carried out by local authorities. I assure Deputy Mac Lochlainn - I have experience of this - that when one interferes with a river or lake system where fishing interests are involved, one finds it is not that easy to have dams removed or bushes and trees cut. The Deputy's council and the councils of the 17 Deputies he mentioned are entitled to apply to the OPW today for grants of up to €500,000 for minor relief works that can be carried out without any great difficulty.

They did, but they were refused.

That work is under way in many cases. The answer to Deputy Mac Lochlainn's question is "Yes". The Government has responded with the €10 million in humanitarian relief for private householders that has been available for a number of years, but has not been drawn down. Some €5 million was announced yesterday. Issues are being worked on to ensure this can be dealt with effectively before Christmas. The question of minor relief works as a co-ordinated response with the local authorities is there now. The Red Cross will visit Bandon with the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, next week. They will have a business meeting with those affected to discuss how they can help. That will be followed by similar initiatives in Ballinasloe, Galway and Crossmolina, etc. The Government, like everybody else, has a genuine interest in dealing with this. However, it is not possible to deal with all the flood relief works overnight.

The Government did not come into office overnight.

There is a real process to be followed here.

The rivers need to be cleaned.

We need to get it right. In Carlisle in Cumbria, some £38 million was spent on flood relief defences, but 50,000 people have been flooded.

Get the farmers to clean the rivers.

We have to get this right.