Flood relief schemes will be fast tracked, pledges Tánaiste
THE new Critical Infrastructure Bill will specifically address the fast tracking of flood relief schemes, the Tánaiste has pledged to the Dáil.
Simon Harris said: “Homes have to be at the top of the pecking order when it comes to our planning system.”
He added: “Sometimes that doesn’t always seem to be the way. We hear about the freshwater mussel delay in the flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy.
“But it’s the people of Enniscorthy that I’m concerned about. Or critical infrastructure bill will specifically address the fast tracking of flood relief schemes.”
The weather event that many communities are experiencing is still ongoing, he said, with particular warnings for Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford.
“There is more rain forecast over the coming days, and flooding will continue to be a risk due to saturated ground conditions and very elevated river levels,” the Tánaiste said.
“So I’d continue to urge everyone to exercise caution. Conditions can change quickly, so monitor the Met Éireann forecasts, but also follow the advice of local authorities.”
Government financial schemes of assistance are now both open, he said, with that in relation to homeowners under the Department of Social Protection and that for businesses under the Department of Enterprise.
To Opposition criticism if preparedness failures, he said: “I don’t accept the assertion that nothing’s been done in relation to flood relief.
“In fact, I would point to the significant progress and money that’s been spent right across the country delivering flood relief schemes that are really helping protect homes, communities, and businesses.”
But he said he accepted it was taking “far too long to deliver far too many.”
Mr Harris said €51 million was committed to the Enniscorthy flood defence project under the National Development Plan.
“We now need to see how we can accelerate flood relief schemes. We published the accelerating infrastructure task force report just before Christmas.
“We will be bringing into this as a Critical Infrastructure Bill, where we have to recognise that while environmental issues and individual views matter, there’s also something else that matters.
“It’s called the public good.”
But Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said Government ministers were allergic to measurables, “in case they can be held to account.”
There are 46 flood schemes at design stage while communities suffer, he said. “Midleton 2023: Storm Babette — 600 homes and 300 businesses flooded. Damage estimated at €200 million. People came within a hair’s breadth of losing their lives in Midleton.
“Storm Frank devastated the exact same area in 2015, when flood defences were promised with a completion date of 2020. Today, the planning application has still not even been submitted.”
He added: “Enniscorthy has been waiting for 25 years for protection. In 2014, €55 million was allocated to flood relief schemes. But this week Enniscorthy is a lake.
“Practically every single piece of infrastructure development in this country is grinding to a halt.”
It was all because the Government has “the slowest planning, licensing, permitting, tendering and judicial reviews in the whole of the European Union,” Mr Tóibín said.
“A national flood forecast and warning service was announced in 2016. Ten years later, none of these flood forecasts are being made available to the public.”
Senan Molony