Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like other speakers, I take this opportunity to thank county council, ESB and Eircom staff and local communities who cleared seaweed and cleared rock debris from many of our local roads during the height of the storm. Galway County Council has estimated €8 million worth of damage was done while the city council has estimated €0.75 million was done. Clearly, the funding and repair of infrastructure locally is beyond the scope of our local authorities and State funding is needed. We also need to apply for the solidarity funding from the European Union.

The Minister stated he is contacting the local authorities seeking more detailed reports by 14 February on the envisaged works, including costings. While I acknowledge that must be done, I agree with those who stated there should be an immediate payment of some of the millions of euro in the case of Galway County Council to allow it to carry out the most urgent repairs. Some projects are larger and will have to go out to tender but for those smaller projects, an immediate source of funding is needed.

Damage was done in different areas in the city and county, including in Salthill and the Claddagh. In Spiddal, where there was rock armour along the coast, the prom was not affected but where there was no rock armour, the prom was torn up. That is clearly a solution at which we need to look in that we need to ensure rock armour is put in place. We also need to look at the lovely walkway in Spiddal which does not have rock armour.

As part of a study, we need to look at the existing infrastructure. For example, a sea wall in Aillbrack, Ballyconneely, which was built in 1942 and repaired in 1952, collapsed and caused flooding and hardship for the locals. It would not have required a lot of investment over the years to protect it but, unfortunately, that was not done. Now the overall cost will be added to. That is something at which we need to look.

Damage was done on our islands, including the Aran Islands and Inisbofin, in terms of coastal erosion and coastal defence walls. Piers and graveyards have been affected, roads have been washed up and bridges have possibly been undermined, including Lettermore Bridge. There are a number of problems and we need funding. I urge the Minister to do all he can to advance funding to Galway County Council and Galway City Council.

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