James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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144. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Bellurgan flood embankment, County Louth will be upgraded and reinforced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5216/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for identifying and implementing appropriate measures to address flood risk at Bellurgan, County Louth rests with Louth County Council (LCC) in the first instance.

LCC, with the support of funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW), engaged consultants in 2011 to assess the condition of the embankment and to make recommendations for any necessary upgrading. The consultants' report, which was submitted by LCC to OPW in 2013, outlined a number of recommendations for short, medium and long term measures. Following a review of the report, the OPW sought additional information and clarification from LCC in May 2014 in relation to the consultants' conclusions and recommendations, including further details regarding the nature of the proposed works and the basis of the economic benefit attributed to them. This information is still awaited and when received the OPW will give further consideration to the report's recommendations.

It is open also to LCC to utilise its own resources to undertake any works required on the Bellurgan embankment.