Conway urges Govt to apply for EU funding to deal with storm damage

Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has today (Tuesday) urged the Government to immediately apply for EU funding to help address the hardships and difficulties being experienced by people in coastal communities as a result of storm damage.

“The damage caused by the recent storms in North and West Clare has to be seen to be believed, and I know many other coastal communities around the country are facing a similar plight, with roads destroyed, promenades ripped up and businesses badly damaged.

“Having visited many areas affected by the storms over recent days, I consider it to be imperative to immediately start discussions with EU officials about the possibility of redirecting some of the existing EU Cohesion funding and to seek financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund, which is available to help member states hit by natural disasters.

“While I welcome Minister Brian Hayes’ commitment that the Government will provide additional funding on top of the €45 million emergency fund available, I am concerned that the scale of the damage caused will lead to a clean-up bill running to hundreds of millions of euro.

“The EU Solidarity Fund was created in response to severe flooding in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and France during the summer of 2002. The people of Clare and other coastal communities deserve the same support from our European partners.

“It is possible to access this funding, if the majority of a population of a region are hit by serious and lasting effects in living conditions and stability, a definition which could certainly be applied to the destruction visited on the people of North and West Clare from Ballyvaughan to Carrigaholt.

“As well as addressing the immediate needs, the Government must ensure that the people of Clare will not be forgotten once the floods recede and I am seeking a commitment from the Government that long-term initiatives to address coastal erosion and flood management will be enacted.”

ENDS