|
|
Call for gorse fire compensation
04.05.11
A DONEGAL senator is
calling for a compensation package for people who
have lost property and livestock in the devastating
gorse fires.
As smaller fires continued yesterday in areas
including Buncrana, Dungloe and Ardara,
newly-elected senator Brian Ó Domhnaill said there
had been widespread devastation.
“The fires that raged through parts of Dungloe,
Ardara, Glenties and the Muckish mountains have
caused millions of euro worth of damage to land,
infrastructure and livestock,” said the FF senator.
“Over the past 48 hours I have been out assisting in
the rescue effort and have seen first-hand the
extent of the devastation, with thousands of acres
of farmland destroyed. Entire farms have been wiped
out, crops and newly cut turf have been ruined,
animals have been injured, and important fencing and
other pieces of infrastructure have been severely
damaged. All of this has had a serious impact on the
livelihoods of many local people." |
 |
Donegal chief fire
officer, Bobby McMenamin said the threat of further
fires remained.
“Conditions are still ideal for gorse fires. We have
windy conditions, very dry conditions out on the
land and I would ask people to be very careful until
the rain comes," he said.
Senator Ó Domhnaill called on Government ministers
to travel to Donegal to see first-hand the extent of
the losses.
“I am calling on the Environment Minister Phil Hogan
and the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to come
to Donegal to see for themselves the extent of the
damage caused. Hopefully they will then realise that
the farmers and landowners who have lost so much
must be provided with compensation from the State.
"There is no time to delay on this issue. Without
State support it will be extremely difficult for the
communities affected to recover," he said. He also
paid tribute to the "enormous efforts" of the
Donegal fire service, defence forces and local
volunteers who between them, have largely brought
the worst of the fires under control. |
|
