Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 March 2018
298. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will meet with a cross-party delegation from the Inishowen Municipal District of Donegal County Council to discuss Government funding for the rebuilding of Swan Park, Buncrana, County Donegal destroyed by the August 2017 floods along with the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Minister of State for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the islands. [13291/18]
View answerOn Tuesday 22 August 2017 an extreme pluvial rainfall event occurred in Donegal which caused extensive damage and disruption, particularly to the community in the Inishowen Peninsula area. The response to the brief period of flooding was led by Donegal County Council and supported by a range of agencies. Although the flooding event ended quickly, considerable efforts were undertaken, again led by Donegal County Council with the support of relevant agencies and Government Departments, to clean up and restore infrastructure and to assist those affected by the floods.
Funding for repair of public infrastructure is undertaken by the relevant Department(s) in line with sectoral responsibilities. Each Government Department liaises directly with local authorities in relation to funding of repairs and restoration being carried out through the local government system.
Since 2009, my Department has made financial support available to assist local authorities in meeting the costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works associated with significant severe weather emergency events. This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of activities carried out by local authorities in responding to these types of emergencies and the fact that the costs of these un-programmed activities cannot be met from within existing resources.
Following receipt of a request from Donegal County Council for funding of €1.729m, my Department recouped that sum in full to the Council on 15 December 2017 under the arrangements for response and clean-up costs in relation to the flooding in the Inishowen peninsula in August 2017. The funding of repair to public parks, including Swan Park, Buncrana, does not fall under the remit of my Department's scheme.
