Ó Ríordáin accuses Government of “double standards” on flood compenstation

Labour TD for Dublin Bay North, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has condemned the Government’s double standard on flood compensation.

Ó Ríordáin said that while compensation for the homes and businesses devastated by flooding in Cork and Louth is to be welcomed, he raised concerns that houses in North Dublin are eligible for the same compensation when they are impacted by flood damage.

“I raised the issue of flooding in my constituency with An Taoiseach and the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphries, a couple of weeks ago to no avail,” he said.

“It is simply not fair that people in North Dublin who have had their homes damaged by flooding are not eligible for the same compensation as people in Cork – this is a double standard that must end,” he said.

“With the climate crisis, risk of flooding is only going to get worse. The Government needs to get its act together and develop a coherent flood compensation policy that treats all victims of flooding fairly.”

“I am calling on the Government to immediately review policy on flood compensation so that all victims, regardless of where they live, are treated fairly.”

Ó Ríordáin’s party colleague Ged Nash said “the reality is that such funds can no longer be piecemeal in nature, designed as they are to respond to what were once-in-a-generation events. The reality of climate change demands that schemes of this kind need to be placed on a more permanent and secure footing.”

Nash’s own constituency of Louth suffered severe flooding this week, with the flooding having a knock-on effect for Dublin commuters as parts of the M1 and Dublin-Belfast railway line flooded.