THE MAYOR of Clonakilty in west Cork has called, along with local TDs, for an emergency fund of €1 million to be put in place this week to assist owners of businesses and homes affected by the recent flooding.
Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes is to visit Clonakilty this afternoon, when he will see the local recovery effort and the various sites in the town badly affected by the floods.
The town’s mayor, Cllr Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, said the flooding had caused “much heartbreak”, but the local response had been uplifting and inspirational.
“The scenes were shocking. The devastation of houses and cars was heartbreaking and yet no one uttered a cross word. Some of these houses are uninhabitable for the foreseeable future.
“It is simply cruel what has been visited on the decent people of our town,” he said.
“In response to the current flooding situation, officials from the Department of Social Protection are providing individuals with emergency payments to offset immediate needs such as assistance with the purchase of food, clothing, fuel and household goods. Officials have already been making house-to-house calls to individuals they have identified as being vulnerable at this difficult time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dara Murphy, Fine Gael TD for Cork North-Central, has called for the establishment of an emergency fund to assist residents and local businesses affected by flooding in the city, some of whom were affected by previous floods.
“Some people are experiencing their second, third or fourth exposure to floods,” he said, adding that he has raised with Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan the need for an emergency fund to assist owners of small businesses in Cork.
“In the same way that a humanitarian assistance scheme of up to €10 million was established after the Dublin floods to provide means-tested financial support to those who suffered damage, I will be calling for the same deal for Cork,” he said.
Cork City Council continues to assist residents and property owners with the clean-up of their properties in the areas worst affected by Thursday’s flooding.
Douglas, on the south side of Cork city, was one of the areas worst affected by the floods.
Barry’s bar and restaurant has had to lay off 60 people temporarily, and the premises is not expected to reopen for two or three months.
Large retail outlets Tesco and Marks Spencer were among the premises in Douglas badly damaged during last week’s flooding.
Glanmire on the outskirts of Cork city also experienced significant flood damage.
As many as 30 families had to be evacuated from the Meadowbrook housing estate. They are being housed in hotels in the city on a temporary basis.
The Irish Red Cross is appealing for donations to assist those affected by the floods.
The charity’s secretary general, Donal Forde, said: “Donations received will be used to support those whose homes have been damaged by floodwater.”
Those who wish to donate to the Irish Red Cross's Cork floods appeal can do so online at redcross.ie; by phone at 1850- 507070; or by cheque made out to "Irish Red Cross", marked "Cork floods" and sent to Irish Red Cross, 16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.