Senator Erin McGreehan took the opportunity to brief Government Ministers on the devastation caused by the floods in areas in the Cooley Peninsula, particularly Carlingford, when she attended last weekend’s Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis.

“I spoke with Ministers Jack Chambers, Darragh O’Brien and Charlie McConalogue, and while chairing a climate action policy panel outlined the destruction caused over the previous number of days,” she said.

“Having brought Minister Michael McGrath to the area on the Wednesday, where he saw for himself the devastation, I asked Minister Chambers to also make a visit and see how badly affected the road network was.

“Government help is required for householders and businesses, and here two schemes under the heading of Humanitarian Assistance could benefit those affected. They are income-related schemes which provide financial assistance and is administrated by the Community Welfare Service and the Department of Social Protection.

“I will be only too glad to provide whatever assistance  any household or business may require in making an application for either of the schemes. Many homes were still flooded on Saturday morning. I had a call from a family desperate for help when their home filled with water for the second time.”

Sen McGreehan said that when she spoke to Minister McConalogue she told him of the damage that had been done to farms. Fencing and walls were down, access roads were impassable and fodder had been destroyed.

“The farming community also needs a financial package,” she said.

Sen McGreehan impressed on Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien the need for extra funding for Louth County Council. “There could have been a greater presence of Council workers. Those who were there worked desperately hard, but there just wasn’t enough of them.

“There is still much work to be done to get things back in order, and I only hope it can be done before the Christmas season really kicks in,” she added.