Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". That is what is happening at the moment. As I have said, there is a memorandum of understanding between the OPW and the insurance companies. They meet as needs be. Information is shared so that it can be factored into the commercial decisions being made by insurance companies. As new houses built after 2009 and small businesses are excluded from the British system, I do not think such a model would be suitable for this country. This issue needs to be looked at. I agree that minor works can be carried out by local authorities. I assure Deputy Mac Lochlainn - I have experience of this - that when one interferes with a river or lake system where fishing interests are involved, one finds it is not that easy to have dams removed or bushes and trees cut. The Deputy's council and the councils of the 17 Deputies he mentioned are entitled to apply to the OPW today for grants of up to €500,000 for minor relief works that can be carried out without any great difficulty.

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