The government’s response to the damage and disruption caused by Storm Chandra has been to evade responsibility and place blame on others, according to Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore said:
“1,200 homes and businesses remain without power after Storm Chandra brought flooding and high winds to parts of Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow on Tuesday – today, further downfalls threaten to cause even more damage.
“Some properties were completely destroyed during the deluge, while thousands of workers were left sitting on the M1, the M50 and the N11 for half a day in traffic.
“A full year on since Storm Éowyn, households have still not received the promised advisory and information booklets on what to do when a storm hits – this week has been a stark reminder of how unresponsive this government is.
“After such dire consequences, I expected Minister for Housing James Browne to address the situation with utmost urgency and seriousness, yet he took to South East Radio yesterday morning and accused Met Éireann of withholding flood warning information.
“This was an extraordinary statement to make and a disgraceful attempt to evade responsibility.
“The Minister rolled out this conspiracy to turn attention away from his government’s failure to invest and implement effective measures in areas that have long been identified as vulnerable to flooding.
“This lack of leadership has defined the government’s approach to flood preparedness, putting it on the back burner at every given opportunity until it’s too late.
“Instead, the Minister should have addressed the threat that continues to face communities at risk of damage today – homes and businesses are susceptible to blackouts, burst pipes, interruptions in drinking water supply and structural damage, all of which is of consequence to livelihoods.
“These weaknesses are exposed by the severe infrastructural deficit faced in these communities – I am calling for an interdepartmental review of the State’s preparedness for Storm Chandra and the actions it took to minimise damage as the gale blew.
“Met Éireann can only provide a forecast – it’s the government’s responsibility to prepare and protect from whatever that may bring, not scapegoat others.”
January 29th, 2025