Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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508. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recent storm damage at Rossbeigh County Kerry, if he will seek emergency funding from Europe to carry out essential repair works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1245/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department is Lead Government Department for the emergency response to severe weather events and I presented a preliminary report to Government on 14 January setting out the meteorological background to the series of storms, the preparedness measures adopted by local authorities and relevant Government Departments and Agencies to the weather alerts from Met Éireann, their actual response, and an indication of the costs of the damage.  I am requesting all affected local authorities to provide more detailed reports, including related costings, by 14 February to enable Government, through the relevant Departments and Agencies, to support the authorities on recovery measures which fall within their areas of responsibility.  The Government will explore all possible sources of funding, including at European Union level, in order to assist recovery efforts.

The Office of Public Works operates the Minor Flood Mitigations Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to provide funding to local authorities to undertake flood mitigation works and coastal protection measures within their administrative areas, and will also engage with relevant local authorities in that regard.