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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Glencush flood damage

Summary

Deputy Browne describes severe flooding on a Tipperary road that has affected access, including for a palliative care patient, and seeks emergency funding. The Tánaiste says he is not familiar with the project but notes increased roads funding in the 2021 budget and possible inclusion in a regional roads allocation.

The programme for Government contains many commitments to funding environmental challenges posed by climate change. There is a residential road in my constituency in Tipperary. It is a cul-de-sac located at Glencush at the foot of the Galtee Mountains. Due to its location, it is exposed to a lot of run-off from the mountains which leads to regular heavy flooding in no one particular section. The situation is so bad that recently palliative care services had to stretcher out a patient and put them on a jeep because the location was inaccessible for the ambulance. Other residents in this area have health issues and are extremely alarmed by the prospect that the emergency services will not be able to reach them directly. The council secured €82,000 in funding to deal with climate change adaptation measures but it says it is nowhere near enough to remedy the situation. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has told me that no further money is being provided under the climate change fund and the council would have to include the work in next year's programme. This road is regularly used by hillwalkers and it is a danger which leaves the council open to possible litigation.

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I thank the Deputy. His time is up.

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This is an exceptional issue and I ask that emergency funding would be made available to resolve the matter.

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I am afraid I am not familiar with the particular project, but funding was increased in the budget for 2021 so we would anticipate an announcement of funding for regional and local roads, probably around January or February, so perhaps it can be included in that.

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