Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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191. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a flood risk at the Glosha Bank in Cromane in County Kerry; the level of contact the Office of Public Works has had with Kerry County Council regarding this location since his visit to County Kerry in May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45878/15]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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192. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a flood risk at Incherea in Glenbeigh in County Kerry; the level of contact the Office of Public Works has had with Kerry County Council regarding this location since his visit to County Kerry in May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45879/15]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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193. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a flood risk at Cromane Lower in County Kerry; the level of contact the Office of Public Works has had with Kerry County Council regarding this location since his visit to County Kerry in May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45880/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 193, inclusive, together.

It is a matter for Kerry County Council (KCC) in the first instance to investigate and address issues of coastal protection at the locations indicated.

Following my visit to County Kerry in May 2015, there have been ongoing contacts between Kerry County Council staff and staff of the Office of Public Works (OPW) in relation to various flooding and coastal protection matters in the County including at Incherea and Cromane. A meeting took place on 5 October, 2015 between the OPW and KCC at which these matters were discussed.

It was explained by the OPW at this meeting that at both of these locations old Land Commission embankments protect private dwellings, some constructed in relatively recent times. It was confirmed to the Council that OPW is not responsible for the upkeep of these embankments. Funding of €80,000 and €100,000 for both of these locations was granted to KCC in 2012 under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation And Coastal Protection Scheme and these were the maximum possible amounts that could be approved under the Scheme's criteria having regard to the information submitted by KCC in its application.

Also, following the coastal storms which affected the western seaboard in December 2013 and January 2014, KCC requested funding for strengthening works at Incherea, Glenbeigh and both repair and strengthening works at Cromane Lower. The Council was advised by the OPW that strengthening works were outside of the scope of the Government Decision allocating funding for storm damage repairs and that only the repair element of projects, such as that at Cromane Lower, were covered under the allocation. The OPW approved KCC's programme of repair works, which included €30,000 for Cromane Lower which amount has been drawn down by KCC.

If, following assessment, the Council considers that economically and technically viable measures and works are possible at the locations in question then it may undertake such works using its own resources or, if necessary, it may submit applications under the OPW's Minor Works Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding for flood risk management. Application forms and related guidelines are available on the OPW website under Flood Risk Management.

No application under the Minor Works scheme from KCC is currently in hands in the OPW for any projects at the locations referred to.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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194. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of efforts to resolve flooding at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45883/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As indicated in my replies to the Deputy's previous Questions on this subject, dated 2 April and 22 October this year, the Office of Public Works (OPW) Flood Risk Assessment & Management (FRAM) Section is currently undertaking a Feasibility Study to assess flood risk management options for Sneem, as a separate study to the South-Western CFRAM (Sneem is not an Area for Further Assessment, AFA).

Work is continuing on modelling the flood mechanisms and mapping the flood risk within the area from the Sneem and Ardsheelane Rivers, including the overland flood risk to the Atlantic Gateway Estate. As previously indicated the OPW expect that the Feasibility Study should be completed by Spring 2016.