I propose to take Questions Nos. 727 and 728 together.
Following receipt of initial estimates from local authorities of the cost of storm damage repairs, it was decided in January 2016 to allocate €106m to assist in the repair of storm and flood damage to transport infrastructure. The figure of €106 million comprised €8 million for repairs to the rail network, €8 million for national roads and the balance for regional and local roads. The regional and local allocation included funding set aside from my Department's Vote as well as additional funding made available by Government.
Following this decision, my Department sought detailed submissions from local authorities before allocating severe weather funding for regional and local roads. The funding was allocated in 2 tranches in February 2016 (to facilitate getting programmes underway as quickly as possible) and May (some funding was held back to allow time for further investigations e.g. on bridges). In total the Department received funding applications considerably in excess of the available funding. Following the review of local authority submissions by the Department, over €93 million was allocated to the local authorities affected by the severe weather and the final draw down is in line with that. Local authorities were given flexibility to prioritise projects when drawing up their programme of works.
Local authorities were informed that the Department of Public Expenditure, in approving the additional funding for repair works, had stipulated that the monies involved had to be drawn down in 2016 and that for that reason works listed in returns for implementation in 2017 could not be considered for funding.
