A total of €13 million in the budget for flood relief works last year was never used, it has been revealed.

Furthermore, the Office of Public Work's (OPW) budget for flood relief works this year has been cut by 14%, according to figures released in the Dáil.

Fianna Fáil Finance Spokesperson Michael McGrath TD said: "Many people will be shocked to learn that the OPW's budget for capital flood relief works in 2016 of €52.6m is actually 14% less than the 2015 budget of €61.3m.

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"To add insult to injury, it also transpires that the OPW failed to spend €13m of its budget for flood relief works in 2015. The government has recently been going to great lengths to promise additional funding for future flood defences, but the reality is they are actually slashing the budget for flood relief works and have failed to invest millions of euro set aside for them in 2015.

"Proper investment in flood defences over the last five years could have saved many families and small businesses from devastating flood damage in recent weeks. Flood defences installed by the OPW meet very high standards and worked effectively when tested by recent storms.

"Minister Simon Harris has stated that the massive underspend on flood defences was caused primarily by unspecified delays in the planned commencement of construction of some capital projects. This is completely unacceptable."

(CD/MH)