Vol. 532 No. 1
231 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total financial outlay in the submissions he received from the local authorities in respect of flooding in recent months; the plans he has to meet this additional requirement for finance to each local authority to deal with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6442/01]
During the severe flooding in November 2000, my Department requested local authorities in the flood zone areas to submit comprehensive reports on the scale of the floods and the ensuing damage and dislocation for their areas. The information requested related mainly to evacuations, number of properties flooded and the emergency response and was used to assist the Government in deciding on the humanitarian aid programme subsequently announced. However, some local authorities provided additional information on the cost of dealing with the flooding at the time and also on the estimated cost of repairs. The total financial outlay based on this information amounts to over £11.5 million.
There are no funds available to me to meet expenditure incurred by local authorities due to flooding. The authorities are responsible for the maintenance and improvement of non-national roads and bridges in their areas, funding for which is provided from their own resources, supplemented by State grants. These funds are designed to cover contingencies arising from flooding, etc. The provision of funding for national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority which has statutory responsibility for the management of the national road network, including the allocation of grants.
My Department's water services investment programme funds water supply and sewerage infrastructure schemes needed for economic and environmental purposes. These schemes do not extend to flood relief generally but drainage requirements of urban catchments can be assisted. The Office of Public Works has primary responsibility for devising and implementing flood relief measures.
