Clare’s Senator claims residents in this county are suffering as a result of the local authority being left out of pocket following coastal protection works in Lahinch.
Clare County Council had sought 1.6 million euro in funding from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government for works it completed and paid for following storm damage four years ago.
But the Department has said that as the funding was sought to repair damage to seawalls, it’s not in their remit, and has advised that Clare County Council must seek the money from the OPW.
But speaking in the Seanad, Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway has raised concerns over the shortfall saying services in Clare will suffer over the failure to acquire funding.
In a statement to Clare FM on the matter, Clare County Council has said that it “drew down all funding which was originally allocated for the coastal repair programme arising from the 2014 coastal storms, with the exception of €1.6m which was part of the sum allocated by the Department of the Environment”.
“Clare County Council is presently liaising with the Department with a view to drawing the allocation down so that the Council can complete the repair programme”.
