Fury over ‘meagre’ flooding relief package

THE €10 million humanitarian flood relief package unveiled by the Government was under attack last night for being too meagre.

The backlash came after it took intense parliamentary pressure from Fine Gael and Labour for Taoiseach Brian Cowen to agree to a full emergency Dáil debate on the devastation which has swept through the south and west of the country in the past week.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore warned the scale of the humanitarian help being offered to flood victims did not go far enough as he demanded the Government needed to “take charge” of clean-up operation after local authorities had coped well with the initial impact of the crisis.

The Government insisted it was in control of the situation as Public Works Minister Martin Mansergh announced a national flood warning system is to be brought in pending a review. The water shortage in Cork dominated the emergency Dáil debate as TDs condemned the lack of information provided to householders when the severe weather first struck.

Junior Trade Minister Billy Kelleher called for an independent inquiry into the management of water in the Lee area as he said it “beggars belief” Cork depended on just one pumping station for its running water.

“This is not about blame, it’s about ensuring it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Yesterday, President Mary McAleese rang Cork City manager Joe Gavin for an update on the emergency response to the crisis. The President said her thoughts were with the many householders and business people adversely affected by the severe flooding.

Meanwhile, an end is in sight to the problem that has left almost 20,000 households in Cork City without water.

Yesterday, city officials said the damaged treatment plant would return to full production before next Sunday.

However, Cork City Council warned it could take an additional two to three days to return the distribution system for drinking water to full capacity.

In the meantime, both emergency drinking water and sanitary water will continue to be made available at 55 locations around the city and will continue until water supplies are satisfactorily restored.

It also emerged that homeowners living in areas subject to subsidence and flooding could find they are unable to get house insurance as companies refuse to offer cover.

Insurance firms lost an estimated €160 million last year in home insurance cover and homeowners now face serious issues as firms begin to take a more cautious stance against insuring homes in certain areas.

The problem is especially prevalent in Cork where subsidence and lately flooding have become major issues.

Director of general services with the Irish Brokers Association Brian McNelis said: “Companies won’t insure against something that is going to happen.”

Chief executive of the Irish Insurance Federation Michael Horan said companies might be reluctant to take in business in high-risk areas.