The Government is to consider improving structural defences against flooding
and providing immediate relief for those affected by recent storms.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil yesterday that the immediate concern was for people who have had to find new accommodation, but he said that longer-term consequences, such as structural damage, would have to dealt with too. “There are issues of immediate and interim concern, as well as the consequences of what one does in the long term by providing structural defences where necessary,” he said.
“Even if one had five- or six-foot-high walls right down to the open sea, however, when the water meets a tide that is 20ft higher than normal, it inevitably backs up.”
Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin said severe weather caused by climate change meant that serious consideration would have to be given to flood defences.
Coastal areas
"When calm is restored I think we have to do some serious thinking about long-term flood defences because clearly climate change is a reality and a lot of people, particularly those who live in coastal areas like I do myself, will have to think long and hard about ensuring this is not an annual event that simply has to be endured."
Mr Howlin said that while the current wave of storms might be once-off he was “fearful it might be a more regular pattern”.
As well as providing immediate humanitarian relief, the Government will also provide further funding once all infrastructural damage has been assessed.
Mr Kenny again said that an application for European aid would be considered, with the possibility that all damage claims would be collated in one application.
The National Co-ordination Group, which includes representatives from all Government departments, met yesterday at the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre in Agriculture House in Dublin city centre. It will review the ongoing threats from storms, tides and flooding.
The National Co-ordination Group will meet again today and the Cabinet will be updated tomorrow.
A more detailed report on infrastructural damage from county councils will be provided to Ministers next week.
However, Brian Hayes, the Minister for the Office of Public Works, said it was impossible to "protect every acre of land in the country".
'Pretence'
He called such an idea "a lie and a pretence that has got to be struck on its head".
“It is a natural occurrence and we have got to prepare for that and we have to be honest to the public,” he said.
“To pretend to people we can provide defences up and down the country, to every square acre of land, is a pretence and a lie – and the public know that too.”