Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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199. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the flood relief works required to the embankment at Bellurgan in County Louth. [14150/15]

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

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. OPW and LCC officials met on 1st April 2015, at the Council's request, to discuss the issues involved. Arising from this meeting, LCC is to submit the further information and clarifications that are required. When the information is received from LCC, the OPW will give further consideration to the report's recommendations under the provisions of the Coastal Protection Act.