Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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316. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding funding to build an embankment to prevent flooding in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7959/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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As indicated in my reply to the Deputy's Question on 6^th February, 2014, 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.

If an application for funding for works at the location in question is received from Kerry County Council it will be given every consideration by the OPW.

It would also be open to the Council to carry out flood mitigation and coastal protection works using its own resources.

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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317. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of maintenance and flood prevention works undertaken by the Office of Public Works in the past 12 months on the Bulkawn River, Ballinrobe, County Mayo, including locations adjacent to the Neale Road bridge near the hotel on the Kilmaine Road; and if he will outline plans for works to be undertaken at these locations in 2014. [7978/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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On four occasions during 2013 the Office of Public Works (OPW) undertook maintenance tasks on the Bulkaun River, Ballinrobe, County Mayo. This channel is part of the Mask-Robe arterial drainage scheme. The work largely involved weed cutting on various stretches of the river and clearing the bed of loose material at the Kilmaine Road bridge.

It is also significant that, in 2012, OPW maintenance staff carried out works on a 1,480 metre stretch of the river with a hydraulic excavator.

OPW had indicated that it would remove 150mm from the weir west of the Neale road bridge subject to consent from all interested parties. This work did not proceed as the required consent was not forthcoming - a number of local residents raised objections to the proposal.

It is the intention of OPW to continue maintenance works with the weed boat in 2014 on the Bulkaun. The total number of weed boat runs on the river in a given year will be subject to resources available, but is expected to be not less than three.