Flood response and CFRAM plans
Deputy Brassil raises flooding in Kerry and asks about the promised review of the State's response protocols. The Tánaiste says CFRAM plans will be published shortly and that flood response must remain under review, with Minister of State Moran actively co-ordinating resources.
In the programme for Government, with regard to climate change and flooding there is a commitment to plan for flooding that combines a short-term co-ordinated response and a section which states, "Following the unprecedented flooding in December 2015, we will review the response protocols of the State to examine if a more rapid and co-ordinated response to local incidents can be achieved." Laois has been mentioned already this morning but on Tuesday night in Kerry we also had extensive rainfall that caused very bad flooding, particularly in north and mid Kerry. My town of Ballyheigue was flooded, along with premises in Ballyduff, Causeway, Listowel, Tarbert and Ballylongford. One individual suffered over €60,000 of damage to his property. I ask that in light of this, along with any other county that received a heavy rainfall, the Government should not forget to respond to Kerry. Funding should be made available to repair the properties and the local and tertiary roads, many of which were washed away beyond repair.
Comment on this
I understand the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management, CFRAM, plans will be published shortly but the Deputy is correct. Given what we have seen in the past day or so we absolutely must keep this issue and how we respond to it under review. We saw a very good response from the agencies with Storm Ophelia but the Deputy is correct and we must stay targeted on this. If we can replicate the model used during Storm Ophelia, it would be the direction in which to go. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is very active on this matter today, ensuring all the resources needed in the area will be brought to bear to help those who have been so directly affected by this flooding.