Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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170. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if an application will be made to the EU solidarity fund to seek financial assistance to support the clean-up and costs which have arisen from the damage caused by recent severe storms. [7283/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform had discussions with the European Commission on possible EU funding under the Solidarity and Regional Support schemes to support the cost of repairing the damage caused to public infrastructure by the recent severe storms and floods.

Following discussions with the European Commission, the Government has noted that the impact of the storms does not meet the threshold conditions for EU Solidarity Fund assistance. The thresholds for regional/exceptional applications are also very high and the EU budget has been reduced from €1 billion to €534 million per annum.  The Commission has signalled that this will mean grants for successful applications being cut from 2.5% to about 1.33%.  Essentially, for every €100 million of damage, the most that Ireland could possibly access is €1.33 million assistance under this fund and, accordingly an application has not been made to the fund.