Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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208. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will make additional emergency funding available to repair-strengthen the embankment at Cromane Lower, Killorglin, County Kerry as homes and properties in the area are continuously at risk to flooding; if he will take into consideration that the winter is coming and come to the assistance of this community, as they cannot any longer afford the cost of protecting their homes and properties from tidal flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28355/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government decided on 11th February to make available funding of up to €69.5 million for a programme of repair and remediation works to public infrastructure damaged in the storms from 13 December, 2013 to 6 January, 2014 based on estimates provided by the local authorities concerned. The figure of €69.5m included up to €1,226,920 for repair works to damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure in County Kerry.

On foot of a direction from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG), Kerry County Council submitted to the Office of Public Works (OPW) a programme of works detailing how it proposes to spend the allocation for repair of coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure. The programme included approval of the €30,000 sought by Kerry County Council for repair works to a coastal embankment at Cromane Lower.

The OPW reviewed the programme having regard to related guidance issued by the DoECLG to the local authorities and confirmed to the Council on 22 May that the funding allocation of up to €1,226,920 is available from this Office for the coastal protection repair works as set out in its programme.

I would also mention that the OPW allocated funding of €100,000 to Kerry County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme in February, 2012 for embankment strengthening works at Cromane Lower. The Council has already drawn down this funding.