The Office of Public Works has refused to confirm or deny whether Clare County Council will lose any unspent storm repair moneys at the end of this year.
Clare County Council received nearly €17 million in the after math of the January storms, with just under €8.3 million of this coming from the Office of Public Works.
However, there are now fears that the unspent portion of the OPW funds could be taken away after the state agency sought clarification on how much the Council will spend by the end of the year.
In a statement to Clare FM, the OPW says this forms part of the pre-Budget process, and that all local authorities received the same letter.
However, when asked specifically whether this money would be ring-fenced, the state agency has declined to comment.
A Council spokesman has told Clare FM that the letter was the first time it was suggested that the money could be revoked, and that it had been understood that the local authority was working on a multi-annual basis.
It's understood that senior Ministers have been involved in talks on a program which could see post-storm repairs and protective works carried out over a number of years.
