'You have to see it to understand the scale of the damage': Leo Varadkar travels to flood-hit Donegal

AN TAOISEACH LEO Varadkar travelled to Donegal today to see the damage done as a result of devastating floods earlier this week.

Speaking to RTÉ News from Inishowen, Co Donegal, Varadkar said the damage in the area had to be seen to be believed.

“I think you have to see it to understand the scale of the damage that’s been done,” Varadkar said.

He said that he was satisfied that response had been good so far and said additional funding would be made available to Donegal County Council.

“I’m satisfied with the response so far but that needs to be sustained and expanded in the coming days,” he said.

Like I said, additional funding will be made available to the council to carry out the necessary repairs.

Speaking during his weekly address from Buncrana, Varadkar said that the clean up was “very much under way”.

“People who can no longer stay in their home are being provided with temporary accommodation and also work has begun on repairing the road and bridges,” the Taoiseach said.

Obviously there will be a need for extra support from central government and that will come to allow all of the damage to be repaired.

Areas in Donegal sustained huge amounts of damage due to widespread floods from heavy rain on Tuesday.

Earlier, Junior Minister Joe McHugh compared the floods to a tsunami.

A total of 28 Defence Forces personnel are operating in three separate locations, including Buncrana, Burnfoot, and Carndonagh.

The Air Corps have also flown an air reconnaissance mission over Burnfoot, Buncrana and Cardonagh to inspect the area of operations, following a request from Donegal County Council.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said his officials were monitoring the situation closely on the ground.

“I can assure farmers whose land has been flooded and who are concerned about possible consequences in terms of eligibility for payments that a practical approach will be taken in terms of dealing with people who have been victims of these events which were completely outside of their control,” he said.

Read: ‘A tsunami from the skies’: Taoiseach to travel to Donegal as emergency meeting takes place over floods