Up to 25 businesses and private residences were destroyed by floods in and around the square and quays areas of Bantry on Monday night. This left tens of thousands of euro worth of damage to property. There is no accountability here. Flood defence works have been promised to the people of Bantry for decades but there has been no delivery. This is the second time Bantry has been severely flooded in two months. The same is true for other parts of west Cork, including Rosscarbery, Rathbarry, Bandon and Skibbereen, to name but a few. The Taoiseach visited Skibbereen himself. Everyone was told they would be entitled to humanitarian aid, as were the people of Cork city yesterday. This is codding the people as private residents and people with insurance will not get a cent. Yesterday, a business in Bantry gave me a letter it got back from the humanitarian aid scheme. It refused the business any money even though the business was destroyed by the floods and had no insurance. The funding that was promised, where I saw politicians handing out forms like they were confetti, is a waste of time. I ask the Taoiseach to address the many destroyed businesses in Bantry or even those in Cork city and beyond. Will he set up a clear compensation package for businesses and private households which have had property worth thousands of euro destroyed?

I thank the Taoiseach for what he has done on this. I mentioned the issue of the Bantry flooding to him yesterday and highlighted the urgency of extending the humanitarian aid support scheme to those businesses. I understand that will happen in Bantry and also in Cork city.

It is a cod.

Aside from that, I underline the importance of the flood relief scheme for Bantry. Every time there is a southerly wind and the tide is high, the square in Bantry floods and it is not good enough. This is the second time in two months that the town has flooded and businesses are again mopping up their premises

The Government is codding the people with the humanitarian aid.

Deputy Collins.

It is a cod.

I am not finished yet.

I have it here right in front of me.

Please, Deputy Collins.

I urge the Taoiseach to make contact with the Office of Public Works and remind it of the importance of a flood relief scheme for Bantry. The humanitarian aid support scheme should also be rolled out for businesses in Bantry.

The Deputy is codding them again.

Many businesses successfully availed of the scheme.

No, they did not. The Deputy should go down to Bantry and talk to them.

It is always sensationalism with Deputy Collins.

Please save the constituency rivalry for the campaign.

I take exception to Deputy Collins trying to suppress and censor Deputy O'Sullivan. That is not on either. The Deputy always gets an opportunity.

I am telling the truth. Humanitarian aid has been refused to the people of west County Cork.

Allow the Taoiseach to continue without interruption.

I will show the Taoiseach the letter if he wants to see it.

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan approached me yesterday about Bantry. I ensured that the incorporeal meeting yesterday evening, which was designed to provide for the application of the compensation scheme and the humanitarian scheme for Cork city would also apply to Bantry, as well as to Aghada, Youghal and other areas which suffered as a result of the flooding. That has happened.

On the flood relief schemes, I spoke with the Minister of State with responsibility for this area, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, again yesterday. He contacted me and said there are a lot of objections to schemes across the country and this is delaying the implementation of a number of flood relief schemes. He wants to meet me. I know the situation in Cork, as I am from the county. There was a lot of consultation and engagement in Cork but there comes a time, when modifications are made to plans and certain issues are taken on board by authorities, to think of the broader picture and the need for flood relief schemes given the trends of recent years. After what happened yesterday, I am afraid what we are saying today is cold comfort to those who have suffered.

If people have insurance, the insurance companies should pay up.

They will not pay up.

They should pay up.

People have no insurance and the humanitarian aid people did not care either.