Government support for flood victims is vital

THOSE who doubt that farming is the ultimate profession of hope need only look west of the Shannon. If the forecasters are correct, residents and businesses have little chance of respite as water levels along the lower River Shannon are due to rise again. And with swathes of the country already flooded in the wake of Storm Desmond, livelihoods are on the line .

Yesterday the national group co-ordinating the response to the floods met. Currently the office of Public Works, the ESB and local authorities all work to monitor and respond. The Defence Forces are also involved.

Obviously, as the water continues to rise it is next to impossible to protect all properties. But with the renewed threat of severe floods it is critical that control is centralised and all emergency responses are coordinated. There was a truism amongst mariners that it is not the storm but how one reacts to it that counts.

The ESB’s forecast of river levels for the next five days predict that water levels will reach 39.60m by Monday.

This was an increase of 390mm above current levels and would be close to the maximum level recorded back in 2009.

An Garda Síochána, Irish Water, the Defence Forces and the HSE are all on standby.

Everything must be done to help locals. It used to be said that there is only one thing more unreliable than the weather and that’s government. This has certainly been true in the past, but this Government has a chance to do better.

Currently, businesses hit by flooding cannot get insurance; it behoves the State to introduce a backstop fund to encourage insurers to come on board. It is also only fair to suspend rates on stricken firms that have been impacted because the authorities have not followed up on flood barrier commitments. Emergency funds to assist victims must also be in place and made instantly and easily accessible.

Communities have shown spirit and commitment by working through the night to save properties. A similar level of support is the least they should expect from their paid public representatives.