Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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289. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the works to be funded by the proposed additional storm funding allocation to Clare County Council of €1,435,952 will be carried out; if he will outline any conditions pertaining to the expenditure of the funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36207/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The programming and execution of works for which the Office of Public Works (OPW) is providing additional storm damage repair funding is a matter for the local authority.

Clare County Council has been requested to identify and submit to the OPW by the end of 2015 the additional priority areas to which it will allocate this funding, with a description of the works and an estimate of costs.

The Council is required to submit an expenditure report to the OPW by the end of 2016 in relation to allof the 2014 storm damage funding allocated to it setting out the projects on which all the monies have been expended and the projection for expenditure of any outstanding funding balances remaining at that time. The report is also to confirm:

(i) The total amount that has been spent on each project, giving a detailed breakdown of the actual costs incurred.

(ii) That the expenditure involved relates solely to works carried out in respect of essential repairs to coastal protection infrastructure damaged in the winter 2014 severe weather.

(iii) That the expenditure represents satisfactory value for money for the State.

(iv) That all necessary consents or approvals have been secured.

(v) That all the specified works have actually been completed.

The monies provided to the Council in this regard are a one-off support for the repair of storm damage. The OPW is not accepting liability for any continued maintenance of any works or repairs. I am satisfied that the funding will help the Council to prioritise the storm damage works in Clare and to finalise these essential repair works.