Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.

Following the severe storms of December 2013 and January 2014 and based on estimates provided by the local authorities concerned, funding of up to €69.5 million was made available for a programme of repair and remediation works to roads, coastal protection and flood defence and other public infrastructure damaged in the storms. Of the total amount of funding available, up to €19.6 million was disbursed to local authorities via the Office of Public Works (OPW) for the repair of damaged public coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure. The amount made available to Galway County Council (GCC) for coastal protection repair works was €1,642,800.

The then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Agriculture, Food and the Marine were responsible for the approval of programmes of work and the disbursement of funding for repair of other damaged public infrastructure such as roads, piers, harbours and other community facilities and amenities, and would be in a position to provide information to the Deputy in that regard.

GCC submitted to the OPW a programme of works based on its allocation of €1,642,800 which included works at a number of locations on Inishbofin at the East End and South Face Shore. All funds have now been disbursed to the Council in relation to this programme and I am advised that the Council has undertaken the works on Inishbofin at a total cost of €301,024.

I have been advised that the OPW approved funding of €90,000 in 2015 under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme to GCC for a comprehensive coastal erosion and flood risk management study for Inishbofin Island as a whole, including the issues of concern at the East End Pier. It is a matter for the local authority to progress this study and GCC would be in the best position to advise the Deputy on the current position on the study.

The identification and carrying out of necessary coastal protection/erosion works is a matter for each local authority and it is open to GCC to carry out coastal protection and flood mitigation works using its own resources. Local authorities may also apply to the OPW for funding under the Minor Works Scheme. The Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie.