Government announce additional supports for flood affected areas – Minister Coffey

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said that the government has announced a series of additional supports for flood affected areas.  Minister Coffey said that that the government are responding to the flooding by rolling out financial and other supports for communities affected by the floods.

“In recent weeks we have seen the wettest December on record which has led to unprecedented levels of Water in areas along the River Suir; River Clodiagh; River Blackwater and River Bride.  The response from voluntary organisations has been immense and they have been of huge assistance to people in protecting their homes and trying to mitigate the impacts of the flood waters.

“The Government has introduced a scheme of assistance for people whose homes have been flooded that is being administered by the Department of Social Protection.  A scheme for businesses effected is being administered by the Irish Red Cross; this scheme has now been extended to include sporting and community facilities that have been affected.

“The government has announced an additional €10 million for the clean-up that will is required as a result of the flooding; that brings this fund to a total of €18 million. My colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and The Marine Simon Coveney has been put in place measures to assist farmers impacted by flooding. A new €2 million Fodder Replacement Scheme will be launched and plans are in place to develop supports for farmers in particular hardship. Farmers with significant fodder losses or animal welfare concerns can call the Department’s helpline on 076-1064408 or 01-6072379.

“Flood defences are a priority for Fine Gael in government and we have committed to €430 million of additional money to be spent in this area over the next 6 years.  We have seen the success of these schemes in Waterford in the recent past in Waterford City and in Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir.

“I am aware of the red-tape that exists that landowners have to experience when trying to remediate their lands on River Banks and I have instructed officials in my Department to review river bank management from a planning perspective with the introduction of a new protocol; so that landowners can repair their damaged lands in a controlled manner but without having to go through so much bureaucracy .

“I am engaging further with my officials to deliver this protocol that would make it more straightforward for landowners protect and remediate their lands that are at threat from water in the future.”

—Ends—