Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of the funding received from the European Solidarity Fund that has been spent to date; the projects to which this money has been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40745/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The total direct costs arising from the floods in late 2009 were estimated to amount to €520.9 million. Of this, €276.9 million related to costs to the State with the remaining €244 million euro consisting of damage to private infrastructure (residential property, commercial property, and motor vehicles) which was covered by private insurance. My Department made an application to the EU Commission for funding under the EU Solidarity Fund based on costings of damage received from Departments and local authorities. A regional application was made as the estimate of the extent of the damage does not meet the Solidarity Fund's threshold of 0.6% of GNI or €935.5 million euro for a national disaster.

A total of €111.5 million euro of the €276.9 million cost to the State was eligible for assistance under the EU Solidarity Fund criteria or 21.4% of total direct costs. This included damage to roads, infrastructure, the provision of temporary accommodation and the costs incurred by the rescue services.

The Commission informed the Department on 14 September 2010 that it is proposing financial aid amounting to €13.02 million in response to Ireland's application to the EU Solidarity Fund. This amount will now have to be confirmed by the European Parliament and the European Council by way of an amending budget procedure.

The funds received will be used to recoup in part the significant expenditure incurred by the State in responding to the emergency. As soon as the budget appropriations become available, consultation will begin with the relevant Departments and local authorities to determine how the money will be paid out.