Farmers should be 'paid a premium' for nature-based approach to floods – TD
There is a "clear opportunity" for farmers to be "paid a premium" for taking nature-based measures to address flooding, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide.
Potential measures, Deputy Quaide suggested, include "the construction of leaky dams and ponds and the planting of native trees”.
He added: “The urbanisation of our flood plains and the mass removal of native trees and hedgerows in recent decades have drastically reduced our land's ability to hold excess water.
“Alongside conventional engineering schemes, we need to maximise our potential for nature-based approaches to flood management.”
The Cork East TD made the comments during questions to Taoiseach Micheál Martin on climate action.
Deputy Quaide added: “Cork County Council commissioned a survey into such measures upstream from Midleton in August 2024, raising hope locally that these options would form part of the wider flood response, yet this report has still not been published and there is little sign that this work is being actively pursued.
“Nature-based measures are not a silver bullet to flood risk, but international experience shows they can be very effective around particular settlements.
“They can often be delivered quickly, at relatively low cost and without the need for planning permission.”
Deputy Quaide described such measures as a “win-win for people at risk of flooding, farmers and biodiversity”.
He asked: “Will government now ensure that nature-based solutions to flood management are actively advanced alongside structural works, with the ambition, co-ordination and leadership that affected communities need?”
‘More to do’
In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “The government supports the nature-based approach to flooding and to dealing with these issues.
“I accept the deputy's point that it is not a silver bullet. It is not an either-or.
“The optimal position is the hard engineering projects but complemented and supplemented by nature-based measures.”
The Taoiseach noted that it is necessary to "rewet a lot more of our uplands".
“We need to engage with our agricultural community in that regard because what I saw in Aughrim the other day was quite frightening in terms of what came down from the mountains, taking roads with it and putting people in difficult positions in terms of life and limb.”
“As a society, we have not fully grasped the importance of adaptation.
We, in government, have more to do in that regard. I will be honest about that. I think we need to do more on the adaptation side,” the Taoiseach added.
Ireland experienced higher than average rainfall in most parts of the country in January. This was followed by frequent weather warnings for heavy rain throughout February, leading to flooding in some areas.
