Half of flood clean-up costs repaid to local authorities

Local authorities have been paid half of the costs submitted for the clean-up of the recent countrywide floods.

Councils from across the country requested €16 million from the Department of the Environment to reimburse them for their responses to the floods in December last year.

Figures released to Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo Dara Calleary show €8 million has been paid out for the response and the cost of the clean-up.

The local authorities have been compensated for all the costs incurred up to December 19th 2015 at a total bill of €6,354,269.

However just €1.65 million of the €10.5 million submitted after that date has been paid to the councils.

From December 19th Cork county council and Galway county council requested funds at €1,764,907 and €2,118,494 respectively and have not yet been reimbursed.

Tipperary County Council has a bill of almost €730,000 which has not been repaid.

Roscommon and Westmeath are also seeking €601,343 and €677,548 respectively.

Local authorities in counties Donegal, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Louth, Longford and Wicklow have been fully reimbursed for all costs incurred in the storms in December last year.

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly said the Department is liaising with each individual local authority to ensure it receives the remaining costs.

He said the Department has €18 million set aside to support the councils on meeting their costs associated with the flood damage.

He said: “This funding is being provided to local authorities in acknowledgement of the exceptional nature of the work undertaken in protecting homes and property from flooding and in the post-flooding clean-up works.”

In a separate response to Mr Calleary, the Department of Transport confirmed one council had drawn down funding under the severe weather scheme.

Waterford City and County Council has received €517,093 for the damage caused to infrastructure and roads by the floods.

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said €85 million has been set aside and he expects a series of claims to be submitted by the end of this month.