The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to allocate funding of up to €69.5 million to local authorities in the areas worst affected by the first phase of severe weather In respect of the damage caused between 13 December 2013 and 6 January 2014. This was intended to help communities by restoring roads, coastal protection, amenities/ facilities and other public infrastructure which had been damaged. It was agreed that the funding would be made available via the Votes of the appropriate Departments, viz Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine; the Office of Public Works and my Department. My Department had an initial role in collating details and costs of damage in the immediate aftermath of the severe weather, based on returns and estimates provided by local authorities.
However, the other Departments and Offices listed above are liaising directly with the local authorities on funding which falls under their remit and, therefore, my Department is not operating through the Office of Public Works as suggested in the question. In the case of funding requirements which fall under the remit of my Department, local authorities incurred current costs totalling €4million and €13.1million in capital costs for the period in question. For the 2nd phase of severe weather, from 27 January to 17 February 2014, local authorities incurred current costs of €3.5million and €8.5million in capital costs.
To date, €7million has been disbursed by my Department to local authorities in respect of their current costs. Capital costs of €5.2million are in the process of being recouped to local authorities, with a further €0.8million expected to be disbursed before the year end. Provision has been made in the Estimates of my Department for a further €10million in 2015 in respect of capital costs incurred by local authorities on repair and remediation projects. The 2015 funding position will be kept under review over the course of the year.
