Bantry flooding
Christopher O'Sullivan described severe flooding in Bantry and called for action rather than more visits. The Minister said emergency supports for households and businesses were being put in place and that a longer-term scheme was already planned.
We should spare a thought today for the people of Bantry in west Cork who have once again experienced devastating flooding in their town. The people of Bantry are angry and frustrated. As politicians and, certainly, Ministers, we must get on the ground and see at first hand the damage that has been done, but to be honest, speaking to the locals there, they do not want to see any more ministerial visits or any more politicians calling to their door. What they want to see now is action. After the 2020 event, a flood relief scheme was sanctioned. That is more than four years ago. We need to see that delivered. What is needed is very simple: new, bigger culverts through the town of Bantry. The people of Bantry want to see us cut through the red tape, bureaucracy and paperwork and get this flood relief scheme delivered. Furthermore, any relief funding or support funding for these businesses needs to be easy to access.
Comment on this
In relation to my Department of Social Protection, I brought a memorandum to the Cabinet today to provide supports to householders who have been impacted and who do not have insurance to cover such events. The Minister, Deputy Burke, also brought a memorandum to the Cabinet on supports for businesses. Those are the supports we are putting in place. The Deputy is right that a scheme is in place.
I understand it is quite complicated in Bantry because the water came up from under the ground into the businesses. It was not from another source. Measures are planned but possibly they are being held up by the process or there may be objections to it. I am not sure about that, but I know the Minister of State, Kieran O'Donnell, was on the ground and met with various people.