James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will prepare and circulate guidelines for local authorities regarding recoupment of emergency costs payable to them by him in the event of severe weather emergencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33931/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the Government I express my sympathy to those affected by the flooding in Cork last week. While, thankfully, no lives were lost, the flooding has impacted on homes and businesses in various areas of Cork. General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund are my Department's contribution towards meeting the cost to local authorities of providing a reasonable level of services to their customers. Some €651m in general purpose grants has been allocated to local authorities for 2012. In addition, local authorities will retain some €77 million in pension related deductions in 2012.

Local authorities' budgets cannot provide for all of the costs that can arise when responding to unforeseeable and exceptional emergencies. The costs incurred by Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Clonakilty Town Council during and following the flooding last week are being assessed at present, and I will consider the position in this regard with relevant Government colleagues as quickly as possible. When all details and analysis of the Cork flooding from last week are to hand, a detailed report will be prepared for the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning.