Storm Babet funding delivered in 'sellotape' fashion for Cork repairs
Newely Dan Expected In Picture: Roads €50m The Local In To The Was Loop Of Ladysbridge Walkway Along East Cost Constructed Are Babet Region The Washed In Which With Storm Linehan Cork Away
The Government must honour its commitment to provide Cork County Council with the necessary funding for flood repairs following Storm Babet and stop making payments in the current "sellotape" fashion, a county councillor has said.
The call was made by Cork county councillors who have been told it will cost in excess of €60m to repair public infrastructure such as roads and bridges following last October's storm. The storm wreaked havoc in the region, especially in East Cork.
Councillors also want the Government to provide grant aid to people who purchase floodgates and to set up a ‘one-stop shop’ to help victims deal with the cost of clean-ups, difficulties in securing flood insurance, etc.
Fine Gael councillor Michael Hegarty won unanimous support from colleagues when he said they should contact the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, other senior Cabinet members and all Cork TDs about the lack of reimbursement from central Government to date for planned repair projects.
At present the Government has only promised €26m in reimbursement, which will be paid in four tranches from this spring until spring 2025.
“We’re not even halfway there [in reimbursement] for the damage done,” said Mr Hegarty. "One night last week over 72mm of rain fell in East Cork.
He described the four-tranche payments as “just a sellotape job”.
Senior council officials said they are working with the Department of Transport, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and the OPW to get additional funding. However, they pointed out that the bill is so extensive it is almost equal to the funding needed every year for the maintenance of non-national roads in the county.
Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern also received unanimous support for her motion calling on the Government to provide grant aid for people who purchase floodgates to protect their properties.
She said more than 350 houses and 250 businesses were damaged in East Cork by Storm Babet and a lot of them need financial help to purchase protective floodgates.
Ms Ahern claimed the cost of these gates for an average house is around €3,500, which is out of the reach of a lot of people.
Social Democrats councillor Liam Quaide said the Government also needs to introduce a ‘one-stop shop’, such as that seen in Austria, to aid flood victims.
He said the Austrian system advises victims on all sorts of interrelated issues arising from flood damage/risk, such as financial supports, floodgate provision, and ‘managed retreat’ (paying for future alternative accommodation) in some cases.
“This is preferable to dealing with multiple departments and agencies which makes for more stress and delays at an already very difficult time," he said.
"The 'one-stop shop' approach is used in Austria where they have a specific 'catastrophe fund' built into their national budget.
"This provides financial security for people at risk of flooding and ensures people will be treated more consistently. With current financial supports, residents who are accessing Department of Social Protection grants are finding there's more red tape and more financial burden than is the case for residents availing of Red Cross funding. We need similar accessibility and consistency of approach with floodgate provision and the other challenges associated with flood management.”