asked the Minister for Local Government if he will estimate the damage caused to (1) public and (2) private property in (a) Galway City and (b) County Galway by the storm of 17th September.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Storm Damage in Galway.
49.
I am informed by the local authorities concerned that damage to local authority property in Galway City and County Galway arising from recent storms is estimated at £2,953 and £10,550, respectively. The local authorities have no information as regards the cost of repairing the damage to private property, but figures will be available in my Department in due course as to the cost of repairing dwelling-houses for which grants may be allocated.
In view of the enormous amount of damage that has been done would the Minister take the interest to send down an Inspector to make a full inquiry into what has happened to private property?
As the Deputy is well aware—perhaps the House is not—we have taken special steps to find out the position in Galway and to see what we could do. That does not give us the information the Deputy is seeking as to the damage to all private property in Galway City.
I take it the Minister was not so interested to find out what the damage was to private property?
My interest is in finding out what we can do to help those people who have had their dwellings damaged.
I hope the Minister will.