Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We fund flood defences, big and small. That is our mandate. We have repeatedly given big and small amounts of money to all parts of the country amounting to €45 million on an annualised basis. That is €250 million over a five-year period from the Government. It is one of the few areas of capital funding that has not reduced. If anything, it has increased. We recognise that we are underfunded as a country when it comes to infrastructural flood defences. We have an open mind and if there is a solution to the problem we will look closely at what Kerry County Council includes in its application. If colleagues in other Departments can bring something to the party on the transport or tourism side we would also encourage that. In the first instance, if home owners have insurance, we would encourage them to speak to their insurance broker.