Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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616. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when additional financial allocations will be made to Monaghan County Council in view of the additional expenditure incurred by councils during the snow storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18046/18]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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617. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when additional financial allocations will be made to Cavan County Council in view of the additional expenditure incurred by councils during the snow storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18062/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together.

Since 2009, my Department has made financial support available to assist local authorities in meeting the costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works associated with the response to significant severe weather emergency events. This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of activities carried out by local authorities in responding to these types of emergencies and the fact that the costs of these un-programmed activities cannot be met from within existing resources.

In relation to the recent severe cold weather and snow that caused widespread disruption in many parts of the country, my Department wrote to all local authorities on 29 March 2018 inviting them to submit claims for recoupment of the exceptional costs involved in the response and clean-up.

Claims have now been received from the majority of local authorities, including Cavan and Monaghan County Councils. These claims will now be processed and paid in due course.