Vol. 486 No. 3
84 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, he has to institute an emergency road repair scheme to deal with the consequences of the recent weather on our non-national road schemes. [2454/98]
97 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the requests, if any, he has received from local authorities for additional funding to address flood damage; whether he proposes to provide additional funding to areas particularly hit by recent floods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2449/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 97 together.
There are no funds available to my Department to deal with flooding matters. The Office of Public Works is the lead agency in devising and implementing measures to deal with flooding. The Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act, 1995, enables it to undertake local flood relief work schemes.
Requests totalling over £3 million have been received from four local authorities for financial assistance under the non-national roads programme, for repairs necessitated by flood damage. I intend that non-national road grant allocations for 1998, which will shortly be made, will provide for the special and ongoing needs of all road authorities.
