Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It stands to reason that my office can only fund projects it has been asked to fund. If we have not received an application we cannot assess the application. Without knowing the specific details of Tawin Island, Galway County Council will be well aware of the criteria for the minor works scheme and if it sees merit in submitting an application I assure the Senator it will be assessed as a matter of priority when it comes to my office. It may also be possible to fund the work under the €498,000 in additional funding to Galway County Council as the council has discretion over how to spend it. I know it has many priorities and the western counties took quite a battering. The minor flood mitigation and coastal protection scheme is not capped and councils can apply as often as they wish for projects of up to €500,000, but it has to come out of my overall OPW budget. There is not a limited pool of money in the scheme as it is demand led and we assess each application based on the criteria.

I assume that Galway County Council will also be seeking funding in the context of coastal management and protection arising from the western CFRAM study. We published draft maps last week and, should it highlight any coastal flood protection requirements, there may be an opportunity for further funding. In light of the capital plan which we published recently we expect to spend, as a country, more money on flood mitigation measures and coastal protection in the next five years than we did in the past 20 years. Given the issues arising from climate change it is right and proper that we do that. It is a serious investment on behalf of the State and my office will continue to work with local authorities on this.