Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
320. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will include works on an embankment (details supplied) in County Kerry while the Office of Public Works is in the immediate vicinity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3942/14]
View answerThe Office of Public Works has no statutory responsibility for maintenance of embankments at the location mentioned.
It is a matter for Kerry County Council in the first instance to investigate and address coastal protection issues generally in the County. It is open to the Council to apply for funding under the Office of Public Works' Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the eligibility criteria, which includes a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding. Application forms and related guidelines are available on OPW's website www.opw.ie under Flood Risk Management.
OPW wrote on 10 January, 2014 to City and County Managers in coastal counties indicating it will accept applications under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for repairs to built flood defences and coastal protection structures which have been damaged by the recent storms. This is a once-off measure to reinstate built coastal defences to their pre storm condition. The specific application form for this is entitled Coastal Storm Flooding Damage Questionnaire 2014 and is also available on the OPW website.
The OPW allocated funding of €180,000 to Kerry County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme in 2012 for embankment strengthening works at Cromane and Incharee. This funding has now been drawn down by the Council.
