TDs seek special Dail action on floods

A Fine Gael TD will seek to have the Dáil schedule altered today to discuss the recent severe flooding in Dublin.

Ms Frances Fitzgerald, TD for Dublin South East, said she was seeking a package of measures for people whose homes and property were destroyed by the floods.

"I am seeking to have steps taken to prevent a recurrence of the problem, to ensure that there is a proper co-ordinated emergency plan at local level, and to ensure proper river management plans for Dublin," she said.

Green Party TD Mr John Gormley said he would lodge an emergency Dáil motion calling on the Government to make a compensation package available to flood victims.

Mr Gormley said it was clear there was no plan in place to cope with floods in the Ringsend area of Dublin.

"In my area, Ringsend, people were not sure whether to go to the local GAA club, the health centre or the community centre," he said.

The Fine Gael MEP, Ms Mary Banotti, has asked the European Parliament and European Commission to assist people affected by the flooding.

"The European Parliament must insist on the Commission coming to the immediate aid of these people, many of whom have no insurance cover for their homes," she said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Small Firms' Association, Mr Kieran Crowley, said funding must also go to small businesses affected by the flooding.

Mr Crowley called for the immediate introduction of a €20 million disaster relief fund.

"It is essential that small companies are given every opportunity to trade through this difficult time," he said.