Homes built in areas with flooding history - Ferris

Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday Sinn Féin Environment Spokesperson Martin Ferris TD called for adequate funding to be made available for areas affected by flooding throughout the country. Deputy Ferris said planning authorities had given permission for housing developments in areas with a history of flooding.
He said:
“The fact is that many of the homes affected by severe flooding were built in areas where there has been a history of flooding but where the planning authorities gave permission for housing developments where a more rigorous procedure might have decided that the risk of flooding meant that the sites in question were unsuitable.
“There is an onus on the Government to ensure that adequate funding be made available to those areas affected.”
Meanwhile Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called on the Taoiseach Brian Cowen to declare a national emergency because of the severe flooding crisis and to greatly increase Government aid to the victims, as well as opening a national subscription.