Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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202. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will increase the Office of Public Works river and flood maintenance budget for the south west region for 2016, as there is an unprecedented amount of maintenance work necessary to prevent highly expensive capital works in the future; if he will outline the 2015 fund versus the 2016 amount for maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5741/16]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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203. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the Office of Public Works capital budget provision for 2016 can realistically be spent in 2016; if not, if he will transfer part of the funding to the maintenance budget for 2016, as there is an unprecedented amount of maintenance work necessary to prevent highly expensive capital works in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5742/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 203 together.

The outturn on the Drainage Maintenance Vote for 2015 was €14.861million. The estimate for this vote for 2016 is €15.338m. Part of this estimate included a contingency fund of €300,000. As a result of the damage inflicted by Storm Imogen on the embankments on the Maine C.D.S this fund has been allocated to carry out repairs to said embankments.

The Government has allocated €52.561million towards capital flood relief measures in 2016 which allows for the design, planning and construction of major flood relief schemes, the funding of minor works projects undertaken by local authorities and the progression of Strategic Studies and Programmes including the CFRAMs, Flood Studies Update and Flood Risk Data Management. There are almost 40 major schemes currently at various stage of advancement and it is hoped to commence construction on up to eight major schemes this year. It is therefore envisaged that the full allocation under the Capital Programme will be fully spent in the current year.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) sees no scope to transfer funding to the maintenance budget. The OPW maintenance programme and funding nationally including the South West is fully committed for 2016 in any event. However, the OPW continuously monitors the projected outturn on each of the Subheads of expenditure on the OPW Vote. In the event of possible savings or excesses the OPW may apply to the Department of PER to vire funding between Programmes or Subheads.

Local Authorities also have responsibilities for maintenance under the Drainage Districts under their control in respective areas. Such maintenance is a matter for each Local Authority within their own financial budgets.