Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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91. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be made available to Louth County Council to alleviate flooding in Dunleer, County Louth which arose because the Whiteriver burst its banks in November 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6459/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The river in question does not form part of any drainage scheme for which the Office of Public Works has maintenance responsibility.

Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for Local Authorities to investigate and address and Louth County Council may carry out flood mitigation and coastal protection works using its own resources.

The Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. It is not available for repair of damaged infrastructure or for maintenance of existing flood defence or coastal protection assets. A Local Authority may apply to the OPW for support under the scheme having regard to those eligibility criteria. Application forms are available on OPW's website under Flood Risk Management and decisions are made having regard to the overall availability of funding for flood risk management.