Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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426. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form by county, the number of requests which have been received by the National Parks and Wildlife Service during the recent flooding to remove debris, gravel, other material or give advice on same, from rivers, streams and drains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9643/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department is working with all relevant agencies at national and local level in responding to the impact of the recent storms. At national level, my Department is working with relevant Government Departments through the National Coordinating Group on Severe Weather to ensure that agreed approaches are taken to repair and restoration works so that people, property and nature are all protected in compliance with all legal requirements. At a local level, my staff are working in an ongoing way with local authorities and landowners in advising on dealing with the aftermath of the storms insofar as that impacts on protected areas. Regarding specific requests concerning the removal of material from rivers, my Department received one such request in respect of each of the counties Waterford, Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny and four such requests in respect of Wexford.