To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, considering the number of fallen trees in the wake of Storm Éowyn, and given the number of rural households living on unadopted roads, (i) whether he will consider making an exception to assist with clearing unadopted roads that are blocked by fallen trees; and (ii) whether financial assistance will be considered for the repair of related structural damage to unadopted roads and footpaths.

My Department continues to address the impact of Storm Éowyn across the adopted road network. Where a request is received for assistance on a private laneway, in regard of a vulnerable person, my Department will seek to work with other bodies to provide that assistance. My Department is not in a position to provide assistance in clearing private laneways, even where the laneways serve multiple properties.

The remit of my Department does not extend beyond the adopted road network and indeed the level of funding falls well below that which is required to maintain adopted roads to the desired standard due to years of austerity. Therefore I would not be in a position to allocate funding to the repair of structural damage to unadopted roads, lanes and footpaths.