Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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257. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will carry out emergency remedial works at Kells Beach, County Kerry, as significant damage was done during the recent storm/high tides; if he will make the necessary funding available to replace the public car park and carry out coastal protection works at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4892/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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It is a matter for Kerry County Council in the first instance to investigate and address coastal protection issues generally in the County including remedial works required on foot of damage from the recent storms. The Office of Public Works (OPW) wrote on 10 January, 2014 to City and County Managers in coastal counties indicating it will accept applications under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for funding to assist Local Authorities with the cost of repairs to built flood defences and coastal protection structures which have been damaged by the recent storms. This is a once-off measure to reinstate built coastal defences to their pre storm condition. The specific application form for this is entitled 'Coastal Storm Flooding Damage Questionnaire 2014' and is available on the OPW website. It is also open to Local Authorities to carry out flood mitigation and coast protection works using their own resources. The provision of funding for remedial works to the public car park at the beach is not a matter for the OPW.