Minister Harris visited the towns of Bandon and Skibbereen in Cork on Monday to view flood damage in the aftermath of Storm Desmond and to meet those affected by it.

His message to all businesses was to apply as quickly as possible for the grant so as to be paid before Christmas. Businesses in Bandon have had no access to insurance since 2009 but they can now apply for funding for compensation, with forms available from the Red Cross.

Businesses can access up to €5,000 on a self-declared basis, with a further €15,000 available for businesses that have been particularly badly affected. This additional funding is vouched. When questioned on whether this will be available to farm businesses that suffered flood damage, the minister said it will only be available to those that have rateable properties. Only some farm businesses are commercial entities and pay rates.

Flooding defences

There is cross-party consensus on working on flooding defences in Bandon and Minister Harris was confident that no matter who is in office they will get on with the job. Funding is in place and tenders are due back in January and the Minister expects shovels in the ground at the end of May or beginning of June 2016. Interim support work can continue without affecting the tendering process. The main drainage works require the river to be dredged to a depth of two metres over a three and a half kilometre stretch.

Brian Hayes, minister Harris’s predecessor with responsibility for the OPW, visited Bandon previously and promised that work would commence on the flooding defence scheme in 2013. But the threat of a legal challenge by a contractor who did not make the shortlist delayed the project. This led to the OPW withdrawing the original tender and reissuing them last month.

Jim Daly TD Fine Gael and Michael McCarthy TD Labour were also in attendance as well as numerous county councillors.

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Full coverage: Storm Desmond flooding