TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has said the Government will respond to the ongoing flooding crisis in areas of extreme hardship where humanitarian aid is required.
Mr Cowen, who visited parts of the south and west yesterday, indicated that Ministers would discuss how to help those most severely affected at today’s Cabinet meeting.
“Where there is humanitarian aid required in the areas of extreme hardship, of course Government will respond and there is a Government department that has that responsibility,” Mr Cowen said.
Parts of Co Clare were on alert last night after the ESB released a significant amount of water at the Parteen weir due to rising water levels in the swollen river Shannon. The impact was also expected to be felt in Limerick city. Met Éireann has predicted further heavy rainfall which could exacerbate the situation.
A meeting of the taskforce on emergency planning in Dublin yesterday heard water levels were at record highs in parts of Lough Erne and the Shannon.
Speaking in Brussels, where he was attending a meeting of European environment ministers, John Gormley said: “I know we use the word ‘unprecedented’ too often sometimes, but this is unprecedented. The amount of rainfall is at record levels.”
During the Taoiseach’s visit to Cork, he said the immediate focus had switched to the provision of water for sanitation, with the establishment of some 40 supply points.
Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin said those affected by flooding could apply for exceptional needs support through their local community welfare officers. The Community Welfare Service, part of the Health Service Executive, administers funding provided by the department. “Through the social welfare budget we actually have some money that can go towards supporting relief as a result of floods,” she said.
“It is on a one-to-one humanitarian basis. It is being done through the community welfare officers. So for the moment, that’s the best way for people to approach it.” Mr Cowen said he found the response of the communities he visited “heartening”. He singled out for praise members of GAA clubs in Ennis who had helped put sand into sandbags. He said flood protection remained a priority.
“The immediate concentration over the last few days has been simply to ensure that the worst effects were mitigated, were abated, were avoided, and people are now moving to a clean-up phase. We have to sort of assess all that and, of course, the insurance comes into play there as well.” The issue will be debated in the Dáil this evening.
Fine Gael has used its Private Members’ time to put down a motion on a flood alert system. Mr Gormley and Minister of State at the Office of Public Works Martin Mansergh will speak in the debate.
MEPs Alan Kelly of Labour and Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly have both called on the Government to apply to an EU solidarity fund. The Fine Gael MEP said he had written to the commissioner for regional development, Pawel Samecki, to ask if he would respond favourably to an application from the Government.
