Minister of State at the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform, Simon Harris, has confirmed, in correspondence to Fine Gael TD Joe Carey, that he will meet a deputation of Clohaninchy residents in the coming weeks. Deputy Harris also has special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) who, in correspondence last week, said that a new coastal protection project is not eligible for funding because available money was for “repair” of damaged coastal protection infrastructure. Residents in this area of West Clare have expressed concern that if coastal erosion works are not carried out, further instances of flooding, similar to January and February of this year, may re-occur in 2015. Clare County Council has estimated that remedial works would cost €4.7m. “I understand from correspondence issued to me from the minister that he has requested officials in his department to make contact with the officials in Clare County Council to ascertain the status of any proposals in relation …
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