Councils slap €78m storm damage bill on state agencies

Local authorities have slapped a €78.3m bill on three government departments and agencies for the cost of winter storms — and the final bill is expected to be a lot higher.

According to the figures provided by Environment Minister Alan Kelly, local authorities have issued a €65.5m bill to the Department of Transport with a further €1.5m estimate of damage placed with the Department of the Environment.

Mr Kelly said a further €11m estimate of damage — included in the €78m total — has been delivered to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The largest single bill from a local authority has come from Waterford County Council which has issued an estimate of €21.96m, made up of €13.97m to the Department of Transport, €7.79m with the OPW, and €200,000 with the Department of the Environment.

The next highest bill has come from Galway County Council that has costed the damage done at €12.3m, including a €12.1m bill to the Department of Transport.

Ironically, the lowest estimate has come from Galway City Council at €35,000 — the council administers the Salthill area that was the scene of RTÉ broadcaster, Teresa Mannion’s ‘Don’t make any unnecessary journeys’ internet hit on December 7.

The bill from Cork County Council is estimated to be at €5.6m, while the estimate from Kerry County Council totals €1.4m.

Councils to make estimates in excess of €4m include Donegal County Council at €4.1m; Roscommon at €4.1m, and Tipperary at €4.46m.

However, the case of Clare County Council, which issued an estimate of €850,000, illustrates how the final bill for the State is expected to be much higher.

A spokesman for the council said: “The figure stated was an early estimate submitted by Clare County Council while extensive flooding was ongoing and while much of the damage was concealed by floodwaters.

“A revised estimate will be submitted next week. The council anticipates that it will be in the region of €3m.”