Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara has welcomed the government's decision to provide €16.8m to carry out necessary repairs to storm damaged coastal areas of the county.

He said the decision by the Department of the Environment to grant Clare County Council €16.2m, specifically to repair local authority infrastructure, means priority is being given to the most urgent areas and work can be carried out on roads, piers and harbours as well as coastal protection and tourism infrastructure.

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He explained: "This will be a considerable relief to communities from New Quay to Kilbaha who can now look forward to the reconstitution of badly damaged facilities. Of course the, level of funding is not as great as I would have wished, but as I have pointed out already we have to be realistic in the current economic climate.

"I note that the Government decision has been welcomed by Clare Co Council and focus now must be to get coastal communities up and running in time for the tourism season and to take advantage of the Wild Atlantic Way which was launched this week and which promises to play a significant role in the development of tourism on Clare's coast."

(CD/JP)