Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that defence mechanisms are put in place to protect properties (details supplied) in County Kerry from future flooding. [6061/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The River Laune is not a designated channel under an OPW arterial drainage scheme and therefore the Office of Public Works (OPW) is not responsible for its maintenance. The channel is in a Drainage District and its maintenance is a matter for Kerry County Council.

If the flooding problem in the location mentioned is due to a lack of maintenance by the Council then the OPW would not approve funding to the Council under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to address this. However, if the flooding problem is due to factors other than lack of maintenance and the Council can demonstrate this clearly then the Council may apply for funding to address this problem under the Minor Works Scheme.

Any application received will be assessed under the eligibility criteria, which include a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding. Any work for which funding is sought will be carried out by the Local Authority. It is also open to Kerry County Council to carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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77. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will put in place defence mechanisms to ensure flooding will not be allowed to occur again at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6062/14]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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79. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the protection works that will be put in place to protect the residents and businesses of Bridge Street, Ballylongford, County Kerry, from being flooded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6088/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 79 together.

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.

The OPW allocated funding of €100,000 to Kerry County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme in 2012 for embankment strengthening works at Lower Cromane. This funding was drawn down by the Council in late 2012.

Ballylongford was identified through the national Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment as an area where the flood risk was potentially significant. It was therefore designated as an area for which detailed analysis is being carried out under the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study, which OPW is currently undertaking in partnership with the relevant local authorities including Kerry County Council. The analysis will enable the identification of flood risk management options for this area. The consultants working on the CFRAM study will be collecting flood event data on site following recent flooding in Ballylongford with a view to ensuring that any mitigation measures that may be proposed to address the flood problem in the town will be robust and effective.

Pending the finalisation of the CFRAM, it is open to the Council to submit an application for funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for any interim mitigation measures for Ballylongford that may be identified. It is also open to Local Authorities to carry out flood mitigation and coast protection works using their own resources.