Written answers

Thursday, 3 July 2014

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Severe Weather Events Expenditure

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the spend to date by his Department in 2014 in repairing damage arising out of the storms and floods of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28863/14]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government decided on 11 February to allocate up to €69.5 million for repair and remediation of public infrastructure that was damaged by severe weather in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 2014 January.

Of the figure of €69.5 million, up to €19.6 million was allocated for repair by local authorities of existing built coastal protection and flood defences in the affected areas, based on estimates submitted by them to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. This funding is being made available to the local authorities through the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the basis of approved programmes of works. The commencement and progression of the works is a matter for the local authorities.

Disbursement by the OPW of the approved funding is made on foot of requests for drawdown of funding from the local authorities. The OPW has informed the local authorities that in order to assist them in a practical way and to avoid any potential cash-flow issues, it will consider requests for advance funding of up to 80% of the estimated cost of approved projects once a contract for works has been made.

To date, the local authorities have not requested any draw downs of funding from the OPW. The local authorities are progressing with works on the basis of the approved funding and it is expected that most of the requests for drawdown of funds will be made from September onwards.

Of the €69.5m allocated in the Government decision of 11 February, a sum of €1.2 million (separate to the €19.6m for local authorities) was allocated for repair of coastal infrastructure that is owned and maintained by the OPW. Firm figures on the amount of the €1.2m allocation spent to date are not available. It is expected however, that this allocation will be expended in full.

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