My Department does not approve any funding through the Office of Public Works but it does provide funding, where exchequer funds allow, for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers and slipways under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. On 20 March this year, as part of the Governments overall co-ordinated response to the damage caused by the winter storms, I approved a total of € 7 million in funding to the Local Authorities in 2014, for the repair of the public pier, harbour and slipway network linked to fisheries and aquaculture.
Funding of €7 million was approved for 111 projects to repair Local Authority owned storm damaged harbours, piers and slipways.
Of the €7m approved for Local Authority projects, a total of €5.39million has been claimed by the Local Authorities to date and those claims are being processed. An amount of €5,077.67 has been paid to date in relation to one claim. All other claims are currently being processed and appropriate payments will be made before the end of the year. All works must be completed in 2014 under the terms and conditions of the Storm Damage Programme, funding approved under the 2014 Programme cannot be carried over to 2015.
