asked the Minister for Finance the proposals he has for a coastal protection scheme along the main road to Downings, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coastal Protection.
105.
Mr. Kenny
The Commissioners of Public Works have received a proposal from Donegal County Council under the Coast Protection Act, 1963, for the construction of a retaining wall 75 yards long, near Downings pier.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state when this proposal was received and how long it will take to process?
Mr. Kenny
The proposal was received in January, 1970.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state when it will be processed?
Mr. Kenny
It is not possible to say when this work can be carried out.
Five years have elapsed since the proposal was received. Is there any way the Parliamentary Secretary can expedite this and other proposals?
Mr. Kenny
We are doing as much as we can but coast erosion is a complex problem.
106.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider having bent grass planted on the sandhills at Ballinprior, Banna and Ballyheigue, County Kerry as the grass has steadily decreased in this area and this will result in coastal erosion if the problem is not taken in hand.
Mr. Kenny
It is upon the county council that the Coast Protection Act, 1963 places the initiative as regards determining the existence of sea encroachment and the nature, extent and cost of remedial works. They may then, under the Act, ask the Commissioners of Public Works to examine a case. The Kerry County Council have not made any proposal under the Act to the Commissioners in the cases of Ballinprior or Banna; they have in the case of Ballyheigue, and the Commissioners are making an examination of that proposal. The Commissioners would, of course, consider incorporating protective grasses in coast protection schemes if such seemed to be suitable.
The problem of coast erosion is particularly prevalent in County Kerry and the bent grass has disappeared from the sand dunes. Last week I put down a similar question to the Minister for Lands and he told me that his Department plant bent grass on agricultural land near the coast. Kerry County Council have submitted many proposals to the Department of Finance for the protection of their coast. They involve a considerable amount of money, but to plant bent grass in an area such as Ballyheigue or Banna is a cheap job. I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to consider if his Department would in future plant bent grass in sand dunes because it would be a cheap way of doing the job.
Mr. Kenny
As far as I understand it is not normal practice for the Office of Public Works to do a half job. Either they sow the bent grass in the course of their programme dealing with coast erosion or they do not do it at all. I will have the matter considered to see if they can do this. I know of a similar case at Inch where there is a problem of coast erosion and bent grass has been planted in one part. That project has proved successful but I do not know what Department carried out the work.
It was the Department of Lands.
Mr. Kenny
That is possible.