Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I think 40% of the money has been given for preventative measures. The ratio is 60:40, with 60% for a response to what happened and 40% for preventative measures. We hope that it will not repeat itself because the preventative measures will be effective and there will not be such a crisis or a need for such large funds in the future. We cannot guarantee that, despite the weather today, because we are in a very volatile climate situation. We do not know what will happen.

I have raised the issue of a contingency fund and there is no contingency fund but it is being addressed across Departments. We in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport certainly do not have the money to suddenly find €80 million or €96 million or €106 million. I think €10 million came from our resources for this. This is being addressed across Departments because it affects, for example, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment and others. I cannot predict the future but it is being addressed because it has caused very great difficulties and there is certainly no contingency fund of the size necessary to meet such a situation. That does not mean that if there is an emergency we will not find it but it is not there at the moment.