Vol. 405 No. 4
11 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline (a) the damage caused by recent storms to marine infrastructure and facilities, (b) the estimated cost of the damage and (c) if a submission has been made to the EC for structural funds for repair of storm damaged infrastructure.
29 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for the Marine if his Department has so far quantified the damage caused along the Sligo coast in the storm of 5 January and other winter storms; if a decision has been reached on storm damage funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
47 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Marine if he has received a report from Donegal County Council on storm damage/coastal erosion in County Donegal; if he has considered the matter; and if he will make funds available to carry out protective measures.
I propose answering Priority Question No. 11 and Questions Nos. 29 and 47 together.
While some local authorities have submitted an outline of all or part of the damage suffered to marine infrastructure within their areas, I do not have a total estimate of cost of repairing the damage sustained.
My Department have received from Sligo County Council an assessment of damage along the Sligo coast, arising from storms in January 1991. This assessment estimates the cost of repairing coastal damage at £360,000.
Donegal County Council has indicated that £330,000 is the order of cost of repairing piers in Donegal arising from the January storms.
There are no funds available to my Department to grant-aid local authorities in respect of these repairs. Structural Funds are not available for the repair of storm damaged infrastructure.
The Minister has already received estimates through various organisations of damage done particularly in the January storms. For instance, there is damage estimated at £700,000 to a farm at Killybegs and losses of £1.1 million worth of fish and equipment in Connemara. It was suggested by certain of the fishing organisations that have been in touch with me and with the Minister that money might be available from the European Community to aid Community populations who are victims of a catastrophe. In the context of job potential and environmental protection we could classify this storm damage as a catastrophe. Has the Minister approached the European Community along those lines?
In 1990 I sought aid from the Community but it was refused, and the rules and regulations are exactly the same in 1991 as they were in 1990.
