The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has made a pledge to the people of
flood-hit Co Donegal that the Government will not be found wanting
when it comes to putting their lives and homes back together.
The Fine Gael leader flew into the Inishowen Peninsula by army
helicopter this afternoon to see first-hand the devastation
caused by Tuesday night’s floods.
Speaking to the media, Mr Varadkar suggested that funding allocation
for such natural disasters including flood relief will have to
increase.
“I just wanted to see the scale of the damage and meet the residents
and the business people who were affected.
“I think you have to see it to see the scale of the damage that has
been done and what really occurs to me is that it’s extraordinary that
nobody was killed or seriously injured and I think we were blessed
that nobody was injured or killed.
“The key thing now is the cleanup and the clean-up is well underway
and the army has now been posted here and are helping with that.
“I’m satisfied with the response so far and that has to be sustained
in the coming days and additional funding will be made available to
the council to carry out the necessary repairs and the Red Cross and
that that is open to businesses and sport and voluntary bodies who
don’t have insurance.
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister Joe McHugh, Regina Doherty with playgroup leader Sarah Quigley-Burns when they visited flood damaged areas of North Donegal. (North West Newspix)
“There will be a very strong central Government approach to assist the
people of Inishowen in the weeks ahead because it is going to take
weeks to put things right,” he said.
The Taoiseach also suggested that with an increase in the number of
natural disasters across the country, the €430M budget for flood
relief may have to be increased.
He said “It is a very substantial budget but I don’t think a budget
for flood relief can ever be enough and perhaps the same applies to
health and to education and to roads and so many different areas.
“But thankfully because the economy is performing strongly and because
of the recovery that has happened in recent years and so many more
people are working we are going to have additional revenues in the
years ahead.
“If we continue to manage the economy well so additional revenues will
allow us to increase that budgets in years to come and I’m sure that
will be done.”
The Fine Gael leader refuted claims that he was late in visiting the
area saying he did not think it was “relevant’ that it took him three
days to arrive in Donegal.
“I am here and very many Government Ministers have been here
already…I don’t think there has been any shortage of Government
interest in this issue, I think half the cabinet have been Inishowen
so I think the most important thing is the Government response and I
think the response from Government is going to be very strong in
providing any assistance that is needed.
“I can assure you that the response from the agencies did not start
from today or from this morning but happened straight away,” he said.
His first stop was in the town of Carndonagh which was one of the
worst-hit areas during the torrential downpours.
On the outskirts of the town in the townland of Glack, the Taoiseach
met with farmer Phil Doherty and his family.
Mr Doherty said “We were lucky enough in that our house was not
damaged but a lot of the fields were badly hit and the river beside
the home burst its banks and will need to be repaired.
The Taoiseach replied “It’s terrible but I’m just happy that nobody
was killed or injured,” he said.
Through the town, the Taoiseach, who was accompanied by Minister
Regina Doherty, met business owners whose premises were damaged by the
floods.
Among them was Sarah Quigley-Burns, who owns the Little Acorns creche
in the town.
Ms Quigley-Burns has 104 children enrolled at the creche which was
devastated by the flooding.
She explained to the Taoiseach how she wanted to open next Wednesday
but may be subject to inspection by Tusla.
She stressed that she was always compliant with all regulations but
just needed some help to put her creche back in order.
“I understand that the services are stretched and that people whose
homes have been damaged should be sorted first.
“But we would appreciate any help we can get. I would dearly love
another humidifier. That would be a big help,” she said.
Local Government Minister summoned council staff and asked them to
provide Ms Quigley-Burns with a humidifier.
In the Good as News charity shop across the courtyard, Ms Mary Farren
described how two tractor loads of donated clothes and other goods had
to be taken away.
Ms Farren and her staff run the charity shop to raise funds for the
local Catholic Church.
“I am delighted that the Taoiseach has come to Inishowen so at least
he can see first hand what we are going through.
“I arrived here on Wednesday and we just had to dump out so much of
our stock. It was ruined but people have been so good and they have
been dropping off stuff again to us,” she said.
Taoiseach Varadkar pointed to the floor where there was several
plastic bags containing potatoes asking if they were for sale.
He was told they were and that they were €3 a bag to which Minister
Regina Doherty produced money and bought a bag.
In McCurdy’s Cafe, owner Charlie McCurdy said he could not afford to
remain closed to repair his business completely.
“I opened here at Easter and I have put everything I have into this
business. I work seven days a week.
“I am now battling with my insurance company to see if I am covered.
What the banks and the insurance companies have got away with in this
country is immoral, it’s immoral I tell you,” he said.
After meeting business owners, the Taoiseach then visited a nearby
housing estate which was also damaged by the heavy floods.
From there he headed to Buncrana where he was brief by local
councillors as well as Chief Executive Officer of Donegal County
Council, Seamus Neely.
He also viisted residents on Swan Park, another area badly hit by the floods.
As the Taoiseach toured the peninsula, the first of the influx of army
personnel from the 28th battalion at Finner Camp arrived in Inishowen.
A total of 30 soldiers arrived yesterday to assist residents with a
promise that more will follow.
The soldiers were divided into different groups to assist in Burnfoot,
Buncrana, Clonmany and Carndonagh, assisting owners with clean up in
the aftermath of the floods.
In one of the worst-hit area on the Lios na Greine estate in Burnfoot, four
soldiers spent the morning filling skips with damaged property which
could not be salvaged.
Tags: