Minister Calleary visits island and rural communities to check on Storm Éowyn recovery
English version below
Ráiteas do na Meáin
Dé Máirt, 28 Eanáir 2025
Cuairt tugtha ag an Aire Calleary ar phobail oileáin agus ar phobail faoin tuath chun an obair théarnaimh i ndiaidh Stoirm Éowyn a fheiceáil
· A bhuíochas glactha ag an Aire leis na pobail agus leis na hoibrithe atá ag cuidiú leis an obair dheisiúcháin
· Moil Phráinnfhreagartha bunaithe ag an deireadh seachtaine chun cuidiú le bunriachtanais
Thug an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, cuairt inniu (Dé Máirt, 28 Eanáir 2025) ar Iarthar na Gaillimhe chun bualadh le pobail oileáin agus tuaithe, a raibh tionchar ag Stoirm Éowyn orthu.
Chas an tAire le pobail i gConamara agus in Árainn chun an dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh ar an obair dheisiúcháin a fheiceáil, chun tacaíocht a chur ar fáil agus chun buíochas a ghabháil le heagraíochtaí pobail a raibh baint acu leis an obair théarnaimh i ndiaidh na stoirme. Bhí oifigigh óna Roinn féin agus ó Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ina theannta.
Chuaigh an tAire go hInis Mór ar maidin chun an obair théarnaimh i ndiaidh na stoirme a fheiceáil. Fad is a bhí sé ar an oileán bhuail sé le hionadaithe ó Chomharchumann Forbartha Árann agus le muintir na háite.
Nuair a d’fhill sé ar an mórthír chuaigh an tAire go dtí an Cheathrú Rua áit ar bhuail sé le hoibrithe pobail áitiúla, arís chun buíochas a ghabháil leo as an tacaíocht ar fad atá á cur ar fáil acu.
Ag labhairt dó ar an gCeathrú Rua, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Bhuail roinnt de na luasanna gaoithe is láidre le linn Stoirm Éowyn Iarthar na Gaillimhe agus theastaigh uaim teacht anseo chun an obair théarnaimh a fheiceáil dom féin. Bhí mé ag iarraidh a chinntiú freisin go mbeadh a fhios ag muintir Iarthar na Gaillimhe go bhfaighidh siad gach uile tacaíocht a bheidh ag teastáil uathu.
“Is léir go bhfuil obair ollmhór déanta ag go leor daoine, lena n-áirítear foirne deisiúcháin BSL, Uisce Éireann agus na nÚdarás Áitiúil agus ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil leo. Tá an pobal anseo in iarthar na Gaillimhe, agus pobail ar fud na tíre, tagtha le chéile chun cúnamh a thabhairt dá chéile.
“Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil Moil Phráinnfhreagartha bunaithe ag Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe in Uachtar Ard, i mBaile Chláir, ar an nGort agus in Áth Cinn, agus beidh teacht ag daoine ar uisce, bia te, ceangal leathanbhanda, cithfholcadáin agus áiseanna níocháin éadaí iontu agus beidh siad in ann a gcuid guthán a luchtú iontu freisin. Tá sé geallta ag Liam Conneally, Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe, dom go mbunófar tuilleadh de na moil seo i gceantair eile atá buailte.
“Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le Liam agus lena fhoireann, mar aon leis na hoibrithe pobail agus na foirne deisiúcháin go léir, as gach uile rud atá déanta acu go dtí seo. Tuigimid go bhfuil roinnt dúshlán fós ann agus tá gach Roinn agus Gníomhaireacht Rialtais ag iarraidh a bheith ag obair i gcomhar i gcónaí tríd an nGrúpa Comhordaithe Éigeandála Náisiúnta lena chinntiú go mbeidh pobail ar ais ar a gcosa chomh luath agus is féidir.
“Beidh mé ag cur an Taoisigh agus mo chomhghleacaithe sa gComh-Aireacht ar an eolas amárach faoi mo chuairt inniu agus is féidir leat a bheith cinnte de go mbeidh an Rialtas seo ag iarraidh neart tacaíochta a thabhairt do phobail.”
Thug an an tAire a aghaidh ar Charna níos déanaí sa lá chun bualadh le hionadaithe ó Chomharchumann Forbartha Chonamara Láir, comharchumann forbartha áitiúil.
Chuir sé clabhsúr lena thuras go Gaillimh le cuairt ar Sheanscoil Sailearna in Indreabhán áit ar chas sé le baill den phobal.
An Scéim um Chúnamh Daonnúil
Tá sé deimhnithe ag an Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí, Dara Calleary, go bhfuil an Scéim um Chúnamh Daonnúil ar fáil chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do dhaoine a bhfuil cónaí orthu i bhfoirgnimh atá buailte go díreachag Stoirm Éowyn.
Maolaíonn an Scéim um Chúnamh Daonnúil an cruatan atá ar dhaoine trí scéimeanna cúnaimh airgeadais, a bhíonn tástáilte ó thaobh ioncaim, a chur ar fáil do theaghlaigh atá thíos le drochaimsir.
Má theastaíonn ó úinéir tí ar bith atá thíos leis an drochaimsir rochtain a fháil ar na tacaíochtaí seo, tá sonraí teagmhála na Seirbhíse Leasa Pobail i gcásanna éigeandála le fáil anseo gov.ie — Fógraí do Chustaiméirí (www.gov.ie).
Minister Calleary visits island and rural communities to check on Storm Éowyn recovery
· Minister thanks communities and workers involved in repair works
· Emergency Response Hubs established over weekend to help support essential needs
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Tuesday 28th January 2025) visited west Galway to meet with island and rural communities, affected by Storm Éowyn.
The Minister met with communities in the Conamara and Árainn areas to see progress on repairs, to offer support and thank community organisations involved in the storm recovery effort. He was accompanied by officials from his own Department and Galway County Council.
The Minister travelled to Inis Mór in the morning to see the storm recovery work. While on the island he met with representatives of Comharchumann Forbartha Árann and local residents.
Upon returning to the mainland the Minister travelled to An Cheathrú Rua where he met with local community workers, again to thank them for all of the support they have been providing.
Speaking in An Cheathrú Rua, Minister Calleary said:
“West Galway saw some of the highest wind-speeds during Storm Éowyn and I really wanted come here and see first-hand the recovery effort. I also want to make sure the people of west Galway know that they will be given all the support they need.
“It is clear that huge work has been done by many including ESB, Uisce Éireann and Local Authority repair crews and I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to them. The community here in west Galway, and communities across the country, have rallied together to support each other.
“I know Galway County Council have established Emergency Response Hubs in Oughterard, ClareGalway, Gort and Headford, where people can access water, hot food, phone charging, broadband access, showers and clothes washing facilities. Liam Conneally, CEO of Galway County Council has assured me that more hubs will be established in other affected areas.
“I want to thank Liam and his team along with all the community workers and repair crews for everything they have done so far. We recognise there are still some challenges and all Government Departments and Agencies are constantly collaborating through the National Emergency Coordination Group to ensure communities get back on their feet as soon as possible.
“I will be briefing the Taoiseach and my colleagues at Cabinet tomorrow on my visit today and you can be assured this Government will not be found wanting when it comes to supporting communities.”
Later in the day the Minister travelled to Carna to meet with representatives of Comharchumann Forbartha Chonamara Láir, a local development cooperative.
His visit to Galway concluded with a visit to Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán where he met with members of the community.
Humanitarian Assistance Scheme
The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, has confirmed that the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is available to provide support to those living in properties directly affectedby Storm Éowyn.
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme mitigates hardship by providing income tested financial assistance schemes to households affected by a severe weather event.
If any homeowner affected by severe weather needs to access these supports, emergency Community Welfare Service contact details are available here gov.ie – Customer Notices (www.gov.ie).