Storm Éowyn Cleanup to Be Reimbursed by State

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has confirmed it will work with local authorities to cover unbudgeted costs arising from Storm Éowyn earlier this year.

In a written reply to Joe Cooney TD, the Department outlined its role in coordinating national responses to severe weather and flooding, in line with the Strategic Emergency Management Framework. Local authorities, it said, remain the lead agencies for on-the-ground responses, supported by established Severe Weather Assessment Teams, Met Éireann warnings, and national guidance.

Since 2009, the Department has made over €100 million available to assist local authorities with emergency clean-up operations, including overtime payments, hiring plant and machinery, materials, and contractors. These funds aim to support rapid responses to unforeseen severe weather events.

“In the context of Storm Éowyn, the costs of response and humanitarian assistance activities were not budgeted within existing resources,” the Department said. It added that it is currently collating costs from all local authorities and will work with the Department of Public Expenditure to address relevant unbudgeted expenses.

The statement clarified that the repair of public infrastructure, such as roads and coastal protection, is funded under the relevant sectoral arrangements and not through emergency response funds.