The allocation for schemes addressing flood problems this year is €44.5 million, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has said.
Brendan Howlin told the Dáil this morning that he had been very anxious last year to ensure funding for flood management schemes would be protected.
"In truth, climate change is changing our weather patterns,'' he added. "We are having wetter summers, as was predicted. We have just come through the wettest June on record.''
Mr Howlin said the €44.5 million, allocated through the Office of Public Works, contrasted with the allocations in the boom time. In 2007, some €23 million had been allocated; in 2008, the figure was €24 million.
"We are getting better value as well, because construction prices have been reduced,'' he said.
Mr Howlin said there had been building on flood plains in the boom time because of bad planning.
"That is another legacy issue of the Celtic Tiger that we are left to address,'' he added.
Mr Howlin was replying to Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy, who said the overnight floods had been devastating and very traumatic. This was particularly so in Cork and Belfast. Villages and towns had been shut down and now faced dealing with the damage caused, he said.
"Flash flooding is becoming more prevalent and it is crucial that as much preparation as possible is done on limiting damage to homes and businesses,'' Mr Troy added.
He said flooding in the Shannon basin was regular and consistent and there was a need for an early warning system.
Expressing solidarity with those affected by the flooding, Mr Howlin said the national co-ordination group of emergency management was currently meeting to assess the situation nationally and work out support at local level.
He said that when heavy rain was forecast, Met Éireann contacted each relevant local authority who put their risk management process in place.
