TAOISEACH'S VISITS:TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen yesterday insisted the Government's primary concern during the current flooding crisis remains providing immediate assistance to those directly affected, but he did not rule out providing financial aid to affected families in the longer term.
Mr Cowen visited Cork, Galway, Clare and Tipperary yesterday to inspect the devastation caused by the heavy flooding.
During his visit to Cork, he said the immediate priority must be the restoration of water supplies to people in Cork city and the clean-up operation for homes and businesses.
The provision of drinking water to some 18,000 houses in Cork city had been the priority of Cork City Council and the emergency services over the past few days and the council, gardaí and Army were to be commended for doing that, said Mr Cowen.
The immediate focus in Cork city had now switched to water for sanitation.
The establishment of some 40 supply points to service the northside and a part of the southside was an important step towards achieving that, he said.
Asked whether the Government would be making financial aid available to homeowners and business people who have suffered huge losses in Cork, Clare, Tipperary and Galway, Mr Cowen said that would be discussed by Cabinet at a meeting today.
“There are insurance issues that will have to be dealt with in the normal way and Government will meet tomorrow, having assessed the total impact of what’s happening, what issues are emerging and see what way we can help.
“In the past, we have been able to see what assistance can be given at a humanitarian basis where extreme hardship arises, but I think it’s important to point out the priority has to be dealing with the problems people are having at the moment,” he said.
Mr Cowen said the Government was committed to continuing with investment in flood relief schemes.
He said he had visited Clonmel in south Tipperary and had seen the benefits of the first phase of such a flood relief scheme, while Carrick-on-Suir, Kilkenny and Mallow had similarly benefited from such investment, and similar work was planned for Fermoy.
Mr Cowen commended the emergency services who had worked tirelessly and selflessly over the past few days to help people and he welcomed the decision by public sector workers in flooded areas to defer taking industrial action today.
“I think there would never be any question but where a particular situation arises, such as happened in Cork in the last number of days, there would never have been any question but that people would do whatever is necessary to deal with that emergency situation as it arises.”
As part of his tour of Ennis yesterday, Mr Cowen – in wellingtons – inspected the damage caused by the floods.
Speaking to reporters after the tour and meeting the inter-agency crisis management team at Clare County Council’s offices, Mr Cowen said the local emergency plan played a critical role in the success of dealing with the problem.
“It is local personnel with frontline experience who know how to deal with this, know what the priorities are in every locality and who are getting on with co-ordinating the response,” he said.
“The local emergency plans are working very well and people are very determined to overcome whatever obstacles this challenge poses for them in each locality.”
Speaking in Claregalway, where water levels had receded slightly, Mr Cowen reiterated that discussion of long-term solutions were for a “later date”.
Mayor of Ballinasloe Johnny Walsh (Ind) appealed to Mr Cowen for an emergency aid package as many of those affected by flooding would not have been able to secure adequate insurance cover.
