Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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255. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a serious flooding risk at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7716/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The River Laune is not a designated channel under an OPW arterial drainage scheme and therefore the OPW is not responsible for its maintenance. The channel is in a Drainage District and its maintenance is the responsibility of Kerry County Council.

If the flooding problem in the location mentioned is due to factors other than a lack of maintenance by the Council, the Local Authority may apply to the Office of Public Works which 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, . 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 regards 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.

However, if the problem is due to lack of maintenance, it is entirely a matter for the County Council.