Flood warnings to public
Deputy Ó Cathasaigh asked whether local flood information ahead of heavy rain should be shared directly with the public.
It has been just over a year since Storm Babet visited severe flooding on communities in east Cork and west Waterford. If we had not been reminded of this by its anniversary, the flooding in Spain will certainly have reminded us in a very visceral way. Replies to freedom of information requests show that detailed information is being shared with local authorities ahead of heavy rainfall events but this is not being shared with the general public. Does the Taoiseach agree that, if this information is available, it is long past time that it was shared? Does he agree that an early warning system for flooding events should be rolled out as a matter of urgency?