Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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68. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made regarding repairs to the embankment of Cromane lower, Killorglin, County Kerry, as adequate work is required to ensure that there are no repeats of flooding of homes and property as occurred in January and February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37414/14]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will engage with Kerry County Council and the local community of Inchire Glenbeigh, County Kerry, for appropriate action and measures for flood defences consolidation to ensure that in the forthcoming winter that high tides and storms will not occur similar to January/February where residents endured flood damage to their properties and are living in fear of a repeat and having to temporarily vacate their homes; if he will make the necessary remedial arrangements in conjunction with Kerry County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37415/14]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together.

The Government Decision of 11 February, 2014 specifically addressed the allocation of funding for the repair of existing public infrastructure damaged by storms in the period of 13th December to 6th January 2014. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG) wrote to Kerry County Council indicating that, based on the estimate submitted by the Council to that Department, up to €1,226,920 was being made available to the Council via the OPW to undertake the necessary repair works to damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure.

The estimates submitted by Kerry County Council to the DoECLG included for strengthening works at Incherea, Glenbeigh and both repair and strengthening works at Cromane Lower. However, strengthening works fall outside of the scope of the Government Decision. Only the repair element of projects such as that at Cromane Lower are covered under the allocation. The programme of works the Council submitted to the OPW detailing how it proposes to spend the total allocation of €1,226,920 included an amount of €30,000 for repairs to a coastal embankment at Cromane Lower. This programme is approved and it is a matter for the Council to progress these works.

The Council will need to address, in conjunction where appropriate with the local communities, the strengthening works at Cromane Lower and Incherea separately and outside of the current process aimed at repairs and emergency works either by utilising its own resources for this purpose or through an application for funding to the OPW under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Applications by the Council to the OPW for funding for works that fall outside of the storm damage funding envelope will be considered having regard to the relevant eligibility criteria and the overall availability of funds for flood risk management.