Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 March 2014
252. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding is available to compensate tourist projects that have been damaged or lost facilities due to the severe weather conditions experienced since the start of the year; if not, if he has applied for access to any European Union funds that may cover such events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10866/14]
View answerFollowing consideration of a report from me on the severe weather that affected Ireland in the period from mid-December 2013 to 6 January 2014, the Government decided on 11 February that a sum of up to €70 million will be made available for a programme of repair and remediation works. €62 m of this will be for local authorities in the areas worst affected by severe weather to help affected communities by restoring roads, coastal protection and other infrastructure and amenities/ facilities/ infrastructure. The Government decision was based on estimates provided by local authorities. Requests for funding of new works to protect coastal areas have been referred to the Office for Public Works and are not covered by the Government decision of 11 February 2014.
The arrangements for the drawing down of the funds by local authorities were finalised following discussions between local authorities, my Department, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Office of Public Works, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The local authorities which were worst affected have been notified of the sums being made available to them and have been requested to prioritise works which are significant for economic activity, with particular regard to the forthcoming tourist season.
Further considerable damage has been caused by flooding and storm events that have occurred since 27 January. Details on damage caused and estimated repair costs in relation to these more recent events will be considered by the Government when they are available.
My Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have had initial discussions with the European Commission on possible EU funding under the Solidarity and Regional Support schemes. The purpose of the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is to allow Member States to request financial aid in the event of major natural disasters. There is a damage threshold per Member State which is set at 0.6% of GNI. The estimated costs of damage caused by the storms between 13 December 2013 and 6 January 2014 of €61.472 m, plus other costs estimated at €10 m, are well below the non-negotiable GNI threshold of 0.6% (€770m in the case of Ireland) of the Solidarity Fund.
The possibility of a regional application has also been considered. This is also subject to a series of impact criteria, including one relating to 50% of population of a region being affected. The situations which have occurred do not appear to meet these criteria and the probability of a successful regional application appears very low.
