Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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339. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be approved for an application for works (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34077/14]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In February of this year, the Government decided, based on submissions and estimates provided by local authorities and other agencies to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, to make available a sum of up to €70 million for a programme of repair and remediation works in respect of damage caused by the winter storms.

Laois County Council was not allocated any funding as part of the Government decision as no submission or estimate of damage was received from the Council.

The Office of Public Works has no responsibility for the wall mentioned by the Deputy and has not received any application for funding for the works mentioned.

It is open to the Council to apply to the OPW for funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The scheme generally applies where a solution to a localised flooding issue can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €500,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio, and to the availability of funds.