Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount of funding approved by his Department through the Office of Public Works for works arising out of the storms that occurred between 13 December 2013 and 6 January 2014; the amount claimed to date by local authorities; the amount expended to date by his Department; if any unspent balances for work not completed will be carried over into 2015 to enable the local authorities complete the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47601/14]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government decided on 11 February 2014 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 them 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.

To date, the local authorities have requested draw downs totalling €6.9 million. OPW has paid €2.7 million of this amount to the local authorities to date and the remaining €4.2 million is expected to be paid by the end of the year. It will be open to the local authorities to submit draw down claims in 2015 for the balances on their overall allocations.

Of the €69.5m allocated in the Government decision of 11 February 2014, a sum of €1.2 million, separate to the €19.6m for local authorities, was allocated for repair of flood defence and coastal protection infrastructure that is owned and maintained by the Office of Public Works. It is expected that this allocation will be expended in full in 2014.