Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 22 and 23 of 8 December 2011, the reason the Office of Public Works is refusing to provide a breakdown of the €270,000 allocated in 2010 and fully drawn down by the local authority; if he will confirm that the OPW has no role in ensuring that public funds are used in a proper manner; his views on the fact that public funds were allocated for a specific project which failed on the first occasion that it was required to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40574/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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In relation to a breakdown of the funding for this project, this information is not available to the Office of Public Works and, as pointed out in my reply to the Deputy of 8 December 2011, Roscommon County Council, as the local authority responsible for this project, is best placed to provide this information.

Under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme, funding is provided to the local authorities who are then responsible for the planning, procurement, detailed financial management and day-to-day implementation of the works. Applications received under the scheme are assessed under a number of criteria, which are designed to ensure value for money.

OPW has not been made aware by the council of any difficulties in relation to this project. Any such difficulties would be a matter for the council to address. If further works are considered necessary, then it is open to the council to apply for funding, and the application will be assessed in the normal way.