Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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168. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that areas of tourist attraction and tourist-related business that were damaged by the recent floods will be fully functioning by Easter in order to ensure the successful tourist season of 2013 is continued. [8088/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Following consideration of a report from me on the severe weather that has affected Ireland, the Government decided on 11 February that a sum of up to €70 million will be made available for a programme of repair and remediation works. This will enable local authorities in the areas worst affected by the storms, including the most recent flooding, to help affected communities by restoring roads, coastal protection, harbours and piers, amenities and tourism and community infrastructure. The Government decision was based on estimated costs from local authorities. The arrangements for the drawing down of the funds by local authorities are being finalised following discussions between local authorities, my Department, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Office of Public works, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with the intention that it will be done as speedily as possible to enable local authorities to continue to help affected communities in the areas worst impacted by the storms, and have as much work completed as feasible in advance of the tourist season.

This funding is in addition to the €25 million which Government has already announced for the Department of Social Protection’s Humanitarian Assistance schemes and €1m of this will now be channelled through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Irish Red Cross to assist families affected by the storms and flooding.