Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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590. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to approve further funding to Galway County Council for storm remedial and prevention works sent to the Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management on 7 April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49040/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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There were a number of severe weather events from late 2013 into 2014.   After the December/January damage the Government acknowledged that the budgets of Local Authorities and relevant Departments/Offices did not provide for the estimated direct financial costs for clean-up and infrastructure repair and restoration works.  The Government agreed that additional funding (€16.2m) would be made available to Local Authorities for regional and local roads via the Vote of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.  

The Department was in contact with local authorities at various points during the year in relation to progress on works required to repair damage caused to roads by severe weather and to establish what funding would be drawn down this year.  Based on the responses from local authorities a Supplementary Estimate for €14.1 million was approved in mid-December for the Department to cover expenditure on roads related to severe weather damage. Under this Supplementary Estimate a payment was made in 2014 to Galway County Council for works to the value of €1,442,405.  

  In addition to the €14.1m,  works to the value of some €2.1 million (including a carryover of €730,000 for Galway County Council) are due to be undertaken in 2015.

Regarding the later phase of severe weather from 27 January 2014 to 17 February 2014, no decision has been taken by Government regarding funding to repair damage to roads.  Local authorities will have to manage repairs by prioritising works from within existing resources in 2015.  I will announce the 2015 grants early next year.