Office of Emergency Planning needs overhaul, says Boxer Moran

The Government’s Office of Emergency Planning needs to be overhauled and updated according to Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Kevin “Boxer” Moran .

Homes and businesses were flooded and a number of bridges were washed away when severe flooding and mud slides hit parts of Co Donegal last week.

Commenting on the emergency relief work underway, Mr Moran said the office should have improved access to assistance from the Army, access to emergency machinery including dehumidifiers and “industrial hoovers”.

Mr Moran said the Donegal was probably the first major flood since he assumed office and while the Government’s Office of Emergency planning was “doing its job”, he said it “needs an overhaul, needs to be updated”.

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Specifically Mr Moran said; “I see now the need to get an agency up and running the minute a disaster hits an area rather than wait three or four days before we deploy the army or civil defence or wait for any necessary agency to get involved.”

He said the initial response to issues such as flooding was “all down to the good work of the local authority”.

Mr Moran said he intended to take the issue up with the Taoiseach Mr Varadkar in coming days. “For far too long we are waiting three to four days to do anything” he said. “We need to have something in place the minute this happens,” he said.

Humanitarian aid

In a separate move the Government has asked the Irish Red Cross to administer emergency humanitarian aid for small businesses and community, voluntary and sporting bodies affected by the Donegal floods. While details have yet to be announced the society previously administered aid on behalf of Government during floods in 2015.

Donegal County Council offices in Buncrana and Carndonagh remained open over the weekend co-ordinating support provided by the Defence Forces in a number of areas of Inishowen. The council is providing skips and dehumidifiers for properties damaged by the floods.

The council said it was likely that some families will not be able to return to their homes for some time. The council is providing emergency accommodation in private rented houses and by the weekend some 40 families were availing of that assistance.

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection is also being deployed to help people whose homes are damaged by flooding and who can not afford essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. The scheme is means tested and assistance is not provided for losses which are covered by insurance or for commercial and business losses.

AA Roadwatch reported that a stop/go system has been lifted from the Muff to Quigley’s Point Road, the R238 at Ture , following flood damage.

The following routes in Donegal will remain closed following the floods

* The Drumfries to Carndonagh Road , the R244, also known as Mountain Road is closed between Carndonagh and Mintiagh. The diversion is via Clonmany and Ballylifin, the R238.

* The Carndonagh to Quigley’s Point Road, the R240, is closed outside Quigley’s Point.

* The Buncrana to Muff Road is closed at Grainne’s Gap.

Several local roads in the Inishowen area have been damaged and the AA has advised motorists to take extreme care if travelling in the area.

Near Derry City, Strabane Old Road, Woodside Road and Ardlough Road remain closed due to flood damage.

“Watch out for debris, especially on minor roads, and only drive through standing water if you are certain it’s not too deep for your car” the association said.