Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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319. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following the storms of late last year and early this year, the assessment that has been conducted of the storm damage caused to coastal farmlands; the outcome of the assessment; the remedial work and flood defences which are proposed and the estimated costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29271/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that they have not undertaken any assessment of storm damage caused to coastal farmlands. The carrying out of such an assessment would be a matter for the relevant Local Authority in the first instance. As indicated in the reply of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the Deputy's identical question on this subject on 17 June, 2014, that Department makes every effort to take account of such exceptional circumstances for the purposes of the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme and other area based schemes that it administers.

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 January 2014.

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 the local authorities to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. This funding is being made available to the local authorities through the OPW on the basis of approved programmes of works. The commencement and progression of the works is a matter for the local authorities.