Storm Babet: Planning objections delaying flood schemes, says Micheál Martin

Speaking in Dáil, Mr Martin said: “There is an issue about continuing objections, I think, that lack balance and perspective in the process that is delaying many flood relief schemes across the country,” Mr Martin said.

“That needs to be faced up to, not just by Government but the entire house. We need balance and perspective on all these matters.” 

 Mr Martin said that the immediate thoughts of the Government were with the households and businesses impacted by the floods caused by the storm.

“it has been distressing for many, many people. We’re deeply concerned about what has transpired,” Mr Martin said, thanking all those who acted yesterday to deal with the flooding.

In particular, Mr Martin praised Sarsfields GAA club in Glamire for allowing the floodwaters to flow onto their pitch, rather than allowing the water to damage houses in the surrounding area.

“They opened up their pitch to save a housing estate from flooding and we will make sure that we work with the club to help in any way possible, because that’s the kind of intervention that makes a huge difference to a community.

“It’s a quick decision and we applaud that action.”

Earlier, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar — who is in East Cork to see the “devastation” caused — said humanitarian schemes would be made available to assist families and businesses impacted by the flooding.

“It does seem like these are very serious floods and real devastation in Midleton, in a number of towns, it hit Cork City as well as Dungarvan, East Waterford,” Mr Varadkar said.

“It's very evident that there's a lot of damage to the roads and a lot of damage to things like walls, for example,” he told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne.

We'll need to assess the damage, put a costing on the repair of it and make a special allocation so that the repairs are done.” 

The Taoiseach said flood relief schemes have been built, but that some proposed schemes “get stuck in planning” and the courts due to environmental concerns.

“I don’t know how many flood schemes [are] in the pipeline around the country. Some are built, some are being built and others are stuck in the planning process for one reason or another,” Mr Varadkar said.

Mr Varadkar said there can be “a lot of opposition” to flood relief schemes, citing the environmental impact on wildlife habitats.

Mr Varadkar said he was due to receive a report on the warnings issued by Met Éireann in advance of Storm Babet.

He said the status orange warning issued by Met Éireann had been a “pretty high-level warning”, but added maybe it should have been a red warning.

“I’m not the person making those calls but of course we’ll have to look back on what was done and what could have been done better. But that’s not for today, today is about the clean-up,” Mr Varadkar said.

The Taoiseach said it had been a named storm and he did not want to blame anyone, saying he was not an expert.

“Today is about the clean-up and making sure that we protect people and property, and then also assuring people in the areas affected that there will be help, financial help, for homes, businesses, sports clubs, any infrastructure that has been damaged will be repaired.”