Written Answers Nos. 77-96
77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which credit remains available to small and medium-sized enterprises, with particular challenges being faced by these enterprises currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46041/24]
View answerSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in the Irish economy. As such, the Government has in place a broad range of policy measures aimed at supporting SMEs to thrive. Most recently, in May 2024 Government agreed a package of actions intended to reduce costs for SMEs. More details can be found on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's website here:
enterprise.gov.ie/en/news-and-events/department-news/2024/may/202405151.html
These measures supplement the supports to SMEs currently in place. I will highlight two related to my own Department, operated by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, which were introduced to assist SMEs and farmers with access to credit: The Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme.
These aim to facilitate access to credit at competitive prices in these areas important to SMEs and Government, namely challenges arising from invasion of Ukraine by Russia, growing businesses and investing in sustainability. Both were developed in conjunction with the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme opened for applications on 20 March 2023. This scheme provides a lending capacity of €1.2 billion, offering low cost working capital to SMEs, primary producers (i.e. farmers and fishers) and small mid-caps (businesses with fewer than 500 employees), which have been affected by the economic consequences of the conflict in Ukraine. Loans under this scheme can range from €10,000 to €1 million, repayable over a maximum of six years. Furthermore, loans of up to €250,000 do not require collateral or a personal guarantee.
The €500 million Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme was launched on 19 September 2023. This scheme is targeted towards the support of SMEs and farmers to grow their businesses, increase their resilience and enable them to transition to environmentally sustainable practices and systems. It provides for loans to SMEs, including primary producers, ranging from €25,000 to €3 million, for terms of 7 to 10 years. Loans of up to €500,000 can be provided on an unsecured basis.
As Minister for Finance I have no role in the commercial decisions taken by individual banks and lenders. The Credit Review Office (www.creditreview.ie/) provides a review and appeals process for business owners refused credit by participating banks.
Further, my Department appreciates the importance of availability of credit can to SMEs and as such monitors the availability of credit to SMEs and farmers. The most recent Credit Demand Survey published by my Department can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ded3c-minister-mcgrath-publishes-sme-credit-demand-survey-2023/
78. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which measures introduced in this jurisdiction to combat such issues as inflation, here and-or throughout the eurozone, are being successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46042/24]
View answer82. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he continues to observe inflationary tendencies in this economy, with particular reference to the need to identify their origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46046/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 82 together.
At its peak in the summer of 2022 inflation was close to 10 per cent. Since then, enormous progress has been made in reducing inflation in Ireland with the headline inflation rate at or below 2 per cent since March of this year. Indeed, the latest inflation reading was just 0.1 per cent in October.
Key to this moderation has been the partial reversal of energy prices from extremely high levels. However, the process of disinflation has also reached beyond energy prices, with core inflation (excluding energy and processed food prices) also easing considerably over recent months.
A similar process of disinflation has also been evident throughout the euro area, reflecting the strong and timely actions taken at a European level and across European countries. The latest Eurostat flash estimates point to euro area headline inflation at 2.0 per cent in October, and core inflation (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) remaining stable at 2.7 per cent.
However, pockets of inflationary pressure remain present particularly in the domestic service sectors both in Ireland and across the euro area. I am also conscious that many households are still facing elevated price levels. That is why Budget 2025 included a cost of living package, designed to support the most vulnerable and ease the financial burden over the winter months. The temporary and targeted nature of the measures taken by Government have been designed to avoid adding to the inflationary burden whilst providing support to those most in need.
Looking forward, inflation is expected to remain on stable trajectory over the near term. That said, given the elevated levels of uncertainty in the external environment, my Department will continue to closely monitor inflation developments both in Ireland and throughout the euro area.
79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which house price inflation here is likely to affect economic performance in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46043/24]
View answerMy Department continues to monitor all aspects of the property market – including the rate of house price inflation – on an ongoing basis, although policy issues in this area rest with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
According to the most recent figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), annual property price inflation was at 10.1 per cent in August.
Rising property prices reflect a structural shortage of supply owing – in part – to demographic and economic developments, rising incomes, and easing financial conditions. Over the medium term, imbalances between housing market demand and supply can create upward pressure on prices, with the potential to impact competitiveness and labour supply, and thereby economic performance.
The Government has recognised its role in addressing this structural imbalance through our 2021 Housing for All strategy, and its programme of housing delivery designed to meet the needs of a growing population and economy. Supply side measures in the interim have included the waiver on development levies and Uisce Éireann rebate, the Project Tosaigh initiative to activate land with planning permission and the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) scheme to support the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers.
These measures have helped to encourage a significant supply response. Since publication of the Housing for All plan in September 2021, more than 90,000 new homes have been built, with completions at 29,662 in 2022 and 32,548 in 2023 ahead of target in both years. More recently, data from the CSO showed new home completions of 8,939 in the third quarter, the highest completions in any corresponding quarter from the beginning of the series in 2011.
The Government recently agreed new housing targets which will see us deliver an annual average of 50,500 homes per year, building up to 60,000 in 2030. To date, it is clear that the measures put in place by Government have encouraged an increase in supply toward those targets. This is evident from recent planning data showing permissions granted for 37,743 new homes in the year to July 2024.
80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the ongoing effect of Brexit on the economic performance in this jurisdiction as well as in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46044/24]
View answerThe implications of Brexit continue to play out despite the UK having voted to leave the European Union over 8 years ago. Following the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, the EU applied non-tariff import controls on goods moving from the UK to the EU, including Ireland. The UK authorities did not apply their controls at the same time.
After a number of years of postponements however, the UK has introduced its own import controls under the UK government’s Border Target Operating Model, which has applied - on a phased basis - to qualifying goods from the EU since 31 January of this year. The new processes will have important implications for EU exporters to Great Britain, particularly agri-food exporters. Importantly, however, the most recent phase of physical checks on qualifying goods have not applied to Irish exports. This is because checks have not yet been introduced by the Welsh government at Holyhead through which the bulk of Irish exports enter into Great Britain. Thus the full economic impact is yet to be felt for Ireland.
However, given the postponement of border checks on multiple occasions, the economic fallout will likely be much less adverse than had initially been assumed following the Brexit referendum. The long lead-in time will have given Irish exporters a number of years to diversify their export portfolios, lessening the ultimate impact of non-tariff barriers. Indeed, between 2015 and 2023, the share of total Irish food and beverage exports going to Great Britain has decreased from 37 to 26 per cent. In addition, agencies and departments have had extensive engagement with affected Irish stakeholders, coupled with communications and advertising campaigns, with the effects of raising awareness of changes in trade policy. This has been informed by continued engagement with the UK authorities, to better prepare for the changes.
We cannot ignore, however, that many SMEs will face a significant administrative burden associated with the import controls when they become effective. Government departments will continue to engage with those impacted by these checks and any other relevant stakeholders to minimise associated costs and my Department will continue to monitor the economic fallout.
81. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the degree to which he and his Department continue to monitor the activities of investment funds here, with particular reference to the need to ensure that their activities are strictly in accordance with their operational licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46045/24]
View answerWhile the Minister for Finance has overall responsibility for policy matters in relation to the investment funds sector, the Central Bank of Ireland is the responsible statutory body for the authorisation and supervision of investment funds established in Ireland. The regulatory and supervisory framework under which the Central Bank exercises this mandate primarily derives from two EU Directives:
• Directive 2009/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities; and
• Directive 2011/61/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on Alternative Investment Fund Managers and amending Directives 2003/41/EC and 2009/65/EC and Regulations (EC) No 1060/2009 and (EU) No 1095/2010.
Further details on the relevant legislation, authorisation process, supervision process, regulatory requirements, guidance and other relevant matters pertaining to regulated investment funds can be found on the following page of the Central Bank website: www.centralbank.ie/regulation/industry-market-sectors/funds
As Ireland's independent financial services regulator the Central Bank of Ireland operates an assertive risk-based approach to supervision which is supported by a credible threat of enforcement, with the overall objective of ensuring financial stability, consumer protection and market integrity.
Finally, the Deputy may also wish to note that following Government approval, I recently published a review of the funds sector - Funds Review 2030: A Framework for Open, Resilient & Developing Markets. The report is a comprehensive piece of work and is available on the Department of Finance website.
84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance whether he remains satisfied that the taxation system in this country is sufficiently broadly based to avoid dependency on any one sector to such an extent that it might become a threat to the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46048/24]
View answerEvery year my Department publishes an annual assessment on the Irish tax system in order to examine the structure of the Irish tax system and identify any vulnerabilities. These reports have focussed in particular on the concentration risks associated with ‘windfall’ corporation tax, i.e. revenues not linked to the domestic economy. Analysis shows that the corporate tax base is highly concentrated among a small group of large, multinational companies in a small group of key economic sectors.
This has long been highlighted as a vulnerability for our public finances, and Government has taken significant action to address this: by the end of next year some €16 billion will have been transferred to two new long-term savings funds, the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, investing a portion of windfall receipts to prepare for future challenges instead of using this potentially transient revenue to fund permanent spending.
Of course, it remains of paramount importance that Government continue to pursue a budgetary policy that strikes the appropriate balance between responding as necessary to current pressures while maintaining our public finances on a positive trajectory over the medium-term.
85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the degree to which he and his Department can influence and co-ordinate fiscal matters in such a way as to support and encourage growth and development throughout the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46049/24]
View answer86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he continues to maintain contact with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland with a view to achieving maximum co-operation and benefit throughout the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46050/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement are key to north-south co-operation and the promotion of peace and prosperity across Ireland. With thanks to the restoration of both the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly, the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) met for the first time in a number of years in early April. I attended the twenty-eighth Plenary meeting of the NSMC in Dublin Castle, on 13 September 2024. As part of this plenary I had the opportunity to hold a bilateral meeting with Caoimhe Archibald MLA who is Minister for Finance in the Northern Ireland Executive.
The Council had a substantive discussion on business and trade related matters. Promoting economic growth in a sustainable and balanced way is a priority and both administrations are committed to supporting businesses and growing trade and Ministers discussed how to achieve this.
As the Deputy is aware, more broadly the government’s Shared Island initiative aims to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation, connection and mutual understanding on the island and engage with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future. The initiative aims at further developing the all-island economy, deepening North/South cooperation, and investing in the North West and border regions. I and my Department are of course closely associated with this important work.
Under the Shared Island Fund, earlier this year the government announced €800 million in funding for cross-border investment commitments and objectives, notably in relation to the A5 road upgrade. This builds on work in relation to other key projects such as the Ulster Canal restoration and capital investment at Ulster University’s Derry campus.
The initiative is taken forward on a whole of government basis, coordinated through the Shared Island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. Further information on the Shared Island Initiative, including the newly published 2023 annual report, is available on www.gov.ie/sharedisland.
Furthermore, in addition to the Shared Island Initiative, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and the Department of Finance NI have shared responsibility for the €1.1bn PEACEPLUS EU programme. PEACEPLUS is a cross-border co-operation programme for Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland and is part of the European Union’s suite of Cohesion Policy programmes. Programme rollout is progressing well: 21 calls for applications have opened to date and 26 projects with a total value of €375m have been approved for funding (33% of the programme value).
87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the degree to which he remains satisfied that Ireland, along with its European colleagues, continues on a positive trajectory in terms of fiscal policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46051/24]
View answerAt the time of Budget 2025 last month, a General Government Balance of €23.7 billion or 7.5 per cent of GNI* was projected for this year with public debt, although still elevated, expected to continue on a downward trajectory to €217.2 billion by the end of the year.
The strong position of the Irish economy is best illustrated when compared to other countries in the EU, where debt and deficit positions remain elevated. In 2024, twelve countries are projected to have debt levels above the 60 per cent of GDP threshold, with five of these with levels above 100 per cent of GDP. Similarly, eleven countries are projected to have a deficit above the threshold of 3 per cent of GDP. In contrast, Ireland is one of only four Member States with a projected surplus.
That said, the EU is expected to see some improvement in its aggregate budget balance in 2024. The IMF forecasts the EU aggregate deficit to decline from 3.5 per cent of GDP in 2023 to 3.1 per cent of GDP in 2024. Meanwhile, the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to rise from 82.1 per cent of GDP in 2023 to 82.7 per cent of GDP in 2024.
However, as I have warned previously, there are underlying risks in our own public finances: the current surplus projections are heavily reliant on windfall corporation tax receipts; in other words, receipts not linked to the domestic economy.
Government has acted to mitigate the exposure of the public finances to this revenue stream, establishing two new long term savings funds, the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. These funds will enable us to prepare for the future structural and fiscal challenges that we know are on the horizon and will also ensure volatile corporation tax receipts are not used to fund permanent spending. By the end of next year, some €16 billion will have been transferred to the two funds.
88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he remains satisfied that revised European taxation rules will apply in such a way to not dissuade foreign direct investment here. [36709/24]
View answerTaxation remains one of the most effective policy levers available to any Government, and it is the prerogative of each EU Member State to develop a tax mix appropriate to their particular economy. Ireland has always maintained that tax competition is an important policy tool, particularly for smaller Member States, provided that competition is fair and based on substance.
To that end, Ireland has always been- and continues to be- a strong proponent of tax sovereignty, and accordingly of unanimity in tax matters at EU level. Having said that, Ireland has shown that we are willing to engage with and agree to EU tax directives that seek to improve the single market and implement agreed international best practices in a consistent manner across the EU. The need for unanimous agreement on tax matters at EU level did not impede the agreement of more than 20 taxation proposals over the lifetime of the last Commission, including important Directives on the EU minimum tax, VAT, administrative co-operation, Anti-Tax-Avoidance and most recently the FASTER directive on withholding tax procedures.
Throughout negotiations on these files, Ireland has consistently maintained the principle that matters of direct taxation remain a Member State competence under the treaties, and tax harmonization is contrary to that principle. On this basis I am satisfied that taxation is, and will continue to remain, a national competence for EU Member States.
Ireland is a proponent of multilateralism as the best solution to address global tax challenges and this is what underpins our position on EU tax matters. Our decision to join the Two-Pillar Agreement at the OECD to address the tax challenges arising from digitalisation of the economy recognises how large businesses across the globe now operate commercially in a digital environment and generate value. These rules are designed to update the international tax framework to keep pace with these developments in a coordinated way.
At a domestic level, Ireland introduced legislation to implement Pillar Two via the transposition of the EU Minimum Tax Directive in Finance (No. 2) Act 2023, with the Pillar Two rules coming into effect from 31 December 2023. Ireland, along with the vast majority of EU Member States and more jurisdictions globally, have begun applying the minimum effective tax rules, and further jurisdictions have specific commitments to bring the rules into effect by the start of 2025. Ireland remains deeply engaged in the remaining work to implement Pillar Two globally and to finalise Pillar One of the agreement. This approach recognises that global implementation of the agreement remains the best opportunity to bring much-needed stability to the international tax landscape, providing a sound and stable platform for future investment.
Finally, I would note that taxation is just one of many policy levers available to the Government in seeking to promote foreign direct investment. Ireland has many other strengths, including a forward looking business environment, a whole-of-Government approach to ensuring we remain agile and competitive, and an educated and dynamic workforce who have consistently delivered innovation and profitability over many decades for businesses that have made Ireland their home.
89. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications for the help-to-buy scheme in County Cork since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37035/24]
View answerApplications for Help to Buy (HTB) may be made on a provisional basis as first time buyers will want to have certainty as to their entitlements in advance of commencing the purchase of a property. An application will only progress to the claim stage if and when the applicant decides to purchase a property that is eligible for the scheme. I am advised by Revenue that county information is only available for applications that proceed to claim stage, since the information on the property address is only captured at the claim stage.
6,884 HTB claims have been approved in relation to properties in County Cork to-date since the inception of the scheme.
90. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Finance in light of the historic Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice in July that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful, if the Government will now enable the passage of Sinn Féin's Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40665/24]
View answerThe Government’s only formal decision in relation to it to date was to propose a 9-month timed amendment at Dáil Second Stage in May 2023. This was in order to allow for consideration of the issues raised by that Bill including alternative non-legislative based approaches or a combination of legislative and non-legislative based approaches which could achieve a similar outcome.
Following the expiry of the 9-month timed amendment to the Bill on 17 February last Pre-Committee Stage scrutiny has been conducted by the FINPERT committee.
Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny has been valuable in informing our collective understanding of the policy and legal matters which the Bill raises. The Bill raises legal and policy questions regarding the use of the UN database and free movement of capital as well as wider practical implementation issues.
While FINPERT’s report supports the Bill, it recognises the challenges related to incorporating the UN Database in Irish statute and the importance of an appeal mechanism against divestment.
All of the work done during the period of the timed amendment and Pre-Committee Stage Scrutiny will help inform both mine and the Government’s position on the Bill going forward.
Following a decision in April 2024 ISIF has divested from 5 banks and a supermarket chain in respect of investments in the Occupied Territories.
There is ongoing engagement between the Minister for Finance and the Ceann Comhairle on the money message treatment of the PMB.
91. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider the decision of not reducing the VAT rate to 9% for bars, restaurants and cafés that are struggling in the east Cork area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42979/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in making any decision in relation to VAT rates or other taxation measures, the Government must balance the costs of the measures in question against their impact and the overall budgetary framework.
The estimated cost of the 9 percent VAT rate for tourism and hospitality, from 1 November 2020 to 31 August 2023, was over €1.3 billion.
The cost of a further temporary VAT reduction to 9 percent for a full year is estimated to be €868 million. Even where the measure is restricted to food and catering services, the estimated full year cost is €675 million.
While I recognise the difficult circumstances businesses in this sector find themselves in, the Government has taken additional measures to support businesses directly. For instance, Budget 2024 and Budget 2025 contained a number of measures to support businesses facing increased costs, including the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant in Budget 2024 and the Power Up Grant of €4,000 in Budget 2025.
In addition, it should also be noted that the income tax package, which will increase the money in people’s pockets, will increase the numbers of people able to eat out.
92. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance if the help-to-buy scheme can be expanded to include all homes and not just new-build properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42865/24]
View answerThe Help to Buy (HTB) incentive, is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. It also has as a key aim the encouragement of additional supply of new houses by supporting demand. The incentive gives a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation.
In addition to the conditions laid down in section 477C Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA), including that the property is occupied as the sole or main residence of a first time purchaser, section 477C(2) defines a ‘qualifying residence’. The legislation is very specific as to the definition of a qualifying residence. It must be a new building which was not, at any time, used or suitable for use as a dwelling. If the property was non-residential, but has been converted for residential use, it may qualify for HTB. Renovation or refurbishment of old houses to either upgrade or reinstate them for habitation does not qualify for HTB.
In relation to second-hand properties generally, an increase in the supply of new housing remains a priority aim of Government policy. As mentioned above, the HTB scheme is specifically designed to encourage an increase in demand for affordable new build homes in order to encourage the construction of an additional supply of such properties. A move to include second-hand properties within the scope of the relief would not improve the effectiveness of the relief; on the contrary it could serve to dilute the incentive effect of the measure in terms of encouraging additional supply.
93. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 82 of 2 October 2024, his recommendations for people currently being disadvantaged by the disabled drivers and passengers scheme due to the lack of a blood link; and for an update to the summary report promised on 12 September 2024 to guide Government discussions on a replacement scheme. [42934/24]
View answerThe Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme or DDS is no longer fit-for-purpose and believe it should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual.
However, this is very much a matter for Government as whilst my Department has oversight of the DDS, I do not have responsibility for disability policy.
As the Deputy is aware the National Disability & Inclusion Strategy or NDIS Transport Working Group recommended that the DDS be replaced with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicular adaptation scheme. This is in line with the general view that we need to move away from a medical criteria-based approach to a needs-based approach.
Under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, the sub-group convened to progress NDIS proposals for needs-based, grant-aided, modern vehicle adaptation supports to replace the DDS, have generated a report that is currently being finalised.
In that context, any further changes to the existing DDS would run counter to NDIS proposals to entirely replace the scheme with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicular adaptation scheme.
94. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the proposed flood relief works for Skerries and, in particular, for the Maltings residential area that floods each time there is very heavy rain coinciding with a high tide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45536/24]
View answer95. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the budget his Department has approved for any approved flood relief works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45537/24]
View answer96. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if a tender process will be implemented for any proposed flood relief mitigation measures for Skerries and, in particular, the Maltings residential area at Holmpatrick, Skerries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45538/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 94 to 96, inclusive, together.
The Office of Public Works is working with Fingal County Council to progress the Skerries (Mill Stream) Flood Relief Scheme.
The Skerries (Mill Stream) project is currently undergoing a Scheme Viability Review (SVR). The objectives of an SVR are as follows:
• Review the CFRAM deliverables and build upon this existing information, including any additional information available.
• Undertake an assessment of both the costs and wider benefits of a flood relief scheme for the relevant communities, and understand any relevant constraints and opportunities.
• Provide recommendations for any additional work that may be required to reduce uncertainty or clarify key issues.
• Determine whether or not a future scheme is viable to progress to the full project stage.
The Local Authority agreed to carry out a monitoring exercise to inform the SVR; this process is ongoing.
Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Fingal County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources.
The Local Authority may also apply to the OPW for funding of flood mitigation works under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
The purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.
Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, with the balance being funded by the Local Authority concerned. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria, which comprise economic, social and environmental criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.
Since 2009, the OPW has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of circa €2 million to Fingal County Council for some nine projects.
