Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this topic with members of the House. I understand that the Deputy’s question is in relation to the provision funding to Cork County Council for emergency repairs on roads and bridges following Storm Babet in October with an emphasis on the east Cork region. As the Deputy said, I was in Cork myself in the days following this, and I am aware of the destruction that was caused in so many areas of the county. We have been in regular contact with the Deputy and representatives - and they have with us - since then, and I know it is an issue that continues to impact on the community there.

As the Deputy is aware, Ireland experienced several severe weather events this winter. Heavy rainfall associated with these events led to widespread flooding in certain areas, particularly in the south of the country. That has caused significant damage to parts of the national, regional and local road networks. It is important to set out the process when there are events such as this.

First, it takes time to assess the full impact of a storm event on the road network. Initial clean-up activities are prioritised and following that there are damage assessments. An assessment of the full extent of the damage following Storm Babet in Cork is still being finalised with surveys on impacted bridge infrastructure ongoing. This year, in addition to an allocation at the end of 2024, my Department committed to allocating funds for the repair and rehabilitation of the road network as part of the 2024 regional and local grant allocations, which were released on Thursday, 15 February. Some €22.5 million has been made available to assist in the repair of the significant damage to the regional and local road network, with Cork County Council allocated €13 million to conduct repair works following the impacts of severe weather events.

The Department, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Cork County Council are also working closely together to assess the damage, and therefore to plan appropriate remedial action and finally determine the estimated costs of repair. This process is ongoing. I fully appreciate that the restoration of the road network is essential from a safety perspective as well as maintaining key social, community and economic connections. We are all aware of the severity of this storm. We are also conscious that significant action is required to restore our critical road infrastructure to active use. As I said, €13 million was allocated for these works in the county, and I want to assure the Deputy that we are committed to continuing to work with and assist Cork County Council in managing essential repair works, especially the opening of key roads and bridges, as well as investing in future-proofing our road networks to help reduce the probability of such damage reoccurring.

I met with the director of roads and transportation in Cork County Council last week, when I was down there. I am aware of the current concerns that have been expressed. If the €13 million that has been provided in 2024 is not sufficient, this allocation will, of course, have to be revisited, and the Department will be open to engaging on that. Due to the scale of the damage and the ongoing assessment that is occurring, it is also likely that there will have to be further significant allocations for 2025. It is about managing the budgetary process in the context of 2024, and then also profiling what will be required for 2025. As I said, on the work with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Cork County Council, there is still ongoing assessment occurring about the specific damage, what that will cost and when it can be remedied. We are actively engaged in that.

As the Deputy said, from what the Taoiseach has said to the Tánaiste and others across Government, when there is a severe weather event it is incumbent on Government to respond. That is why there has been this initial allocation, and we will work with Cork County Council to make sure that there is proper restoration of the road infrastructure in this instance.

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