Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Thank you Chairman. I will be seeing some members again this afternoon in the Dáil. I wish to address the Supplementary Estimates today and thank the committee for the chance to present the details of the Supplementary Estimate for my Department.

The winter of 2015 to 2016 will be remembered as an exceptional one across Ireland, with many climate records broken and high impact weather events causing considerable disruption from flooding in particular, but also from high winds. A succession of winter storms tracked across the country, bringing persistent and, in places, record-breaking rainfall, most notably from Storm Desmond between 4 and 6 December 2015. In total, six storms occurred during that winter period starting with Storm Desmond and finishing with Storm Imogen. Records were set for both monthly and seasonal rainfall accumulations widely across Ireland. That had a severe impact on the road and rail networks.

In response, the Government decided in January 2016 to allocate extra severe weather funding to address the damage caused to the road and rail network. The total funding package agreed was €106.1 million, with €96.1 million to be provided by the Exchequer and €10 million from within the Department's existing allocations for regional and local roads. Therefore, the amount being sought in this Supplementary Estimate is €96.1 million. The breakdown of the extra spend during 2016 was regional and local roads - €80.1 million; national roads - €8 million and Irish Rail - €8 million. The amounts were advised to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in respect of national roads and to Irish Rail in respect of the rail network.

Regarding regional and local roads, my Department requested local authorities to submit an immediate list of proposed road repair works by 5 February 2016. It was indicated to local authorities that funding would be allocated in two tranches, with the initial allocation facilitating local authorities to start repairs as quickly as possible and the allocation of a second tranche in May intended to allow some time for the further investigation and evaluation of proposed works, for example in relation to bridges.

All of the moneys under the different headings have since been spent and are in the process of being claimed through the normal end-of-year processes. With regard to the rail network, as the Deputies will recall, many lines on the rail network were badly affected by the storms with sections on some lines closed for short periods and, in the case of parts of the western rail corridor, closed for a number of months.

The €8 million in funding provided for repairs to the rail network includes funding for the following projects - repairs to railway bridges and culverts; track repairs and alignments; drainage repairs and remediation; significant coastal protection works for the rail line in Murrough, County Wicklow and dredging at Rosslare.

I would be happy to address any questions that this committee may have.