Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 January 2014
212. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to provide funding for the reinstatement of graveyards following recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2064/14]
View answerMy Department is lead Government Department for the emergency response to severe weather events and I presented a preliminary report to Government on 14 January setting out the meteorological background to the series of storms, the preparedness measures adopted by local authorities and relevant Government Departments and Agencies to the weather alerts from Met Éireann, their actual response, and an indication of the costs of the damage. I am requesting all affected local authorities to provide more detailed reports, including related costings, by 14 February 2014 to enable Government, through the relevant Departments and Agencies, to support the authorities on recovery measures which fall within their areas of responsibility. The Government will explore all possible sources of funding, including at European Union level, in order to assist recovery efforts. When all the above information has been collated, Government will then be in a position to make a decision on Government assistance for the recovery programme and the specific works to be comprehended.
