THE Government has been asked to approve €13.5 million in funding for Limerick local authorities to repair damage caused by floods earlier this year.
According to the city and county councils, €5 million is needed to replace damaged buildings and infrastructure and a further €8.5 million required for flood defence work.
Local Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea has urged Environment Minister Phil Hogan to expedite Limerick City and County Councils application for funding to assist the reparation programme to rebuild the worst hit communities.
And he insists that the Government needs to put in place a tangible flood defence system so that the city and county can be protected from the River Shannon.
“More than 2,000 people are still trying to get their homes repaired and the city and county councils have now applied for additional funding to accelerate the work,” he said.
“The people of Kings Island and Corbally rallied around and helped each other while the Government stood back like an outside observer. This was not the first time Limerick experienced serious flood damage, and yet the Minister for the Environment made no attempt to address the issue,” he claimed.
