Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2014
160. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to approve further funding to Galway County Council for storm remedial and prevention works sent to the directorate for fire and emergency management on 7 April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49039/14]
View answerThe Government Decision of 11 February 2014 allocated total funding of up to €69.5 million for clean-up, repair and restoration works in relation to public infrastructure that was damaged in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 based on submissions and cost estimates made by the local authorities concerned to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG). Funding of up to €19.6 million for repair of damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure that was included in the allocation of €69.5 million is being made available to the local authorities via the Office of Public Works (OPW). The allocation of €19.5 million included a sum of €1,144,800 for Galway County Council. The Departments of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG), Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTAS) and Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) are responsible for the disbursement of funding for repair of other damaged public infrastructure such as roads, piers, harbours and other community facilities and amenities.
There was no allocation of funding by the Government in respect of storm damage other than that occurring in the specific period mentioned in this reply. The OPW is not in a position to allocate funding to Galway County Council for repair of storm damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure above that sanctioned by the Government Decision of 11 February.
