Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1493. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will respond to the application for funding made by the Limerick City and County Council on 18 February 2014 in respect of severe flood damage on 1 February 2014; if funding will be granted; if so, when will it be issued; and when work is expected to start on the flood defences for Limerick City; if he will confirm that moneys granted will not be taken from moneys already granted or pledged to the regeneration project in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33194/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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There were two distinct phases of severe weather which affected the country last winter, from 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 and from 27 January to 17 February 2014. My Department had an initial role in coordinating and collating details and costs of damage in the immediate aftermath of the severe weather, based on returns and estimates provided by local authorities.

On foot of a report provided by my Department, the Government decided on 11 February 2014 to allocate funding of up to €69.5 million to local authorities in the areas worst affected by the first phase of severe weather to help affected communities by restoring roads, coastal protection, amenities/facilities and other public infrastructure. It was agreed that the funding would be made available via the Votes of the Departments with responsibility for the relevant infrastructure i.e. Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine; the Office of Public Works and my Department. In the case of my own Department, an amount of €72,000 was remitted to Limerick and City Council in respect of their response and clean-up costs for the first phase of severe weather. The issue of funding in relation to costs associated with the second phase of severe weather remains under consideration.

The provision of new or enhanced flood defences and flood risk management are matters for the Office of Public Works and the relevant local authorities, in this case Limerick City and County Council. While I understand that the design of flood defences, particularly at King’s Island, is being incorporated into the Limerick Regeneration Project, the associated funding remains a matter for the Office of Public Works.