asked the Minister for the Environment to authorise the granting of special financial assistance towards prevention of sea erosion where family homes are threatened or to authorise local authorities to raise such finance as would be necessary though such amounts may be in excess of the rates ceiling as already laid down by him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sea Erosion Prevention.
8.
There are no funds at my disposal to assist local authorities in coast protection works. Works carried out in accordance with a scheme made under the Coast Protection Act, 1963, can be assisted by the Minister for Finance and the balance of the cost falling on a local authority may be financed by borrowing. As regards the question of increases in local rates, the upper limit applies to the total rate rather than to the portion of the rate applicable to any specific service. Where minor coast protection works or maintenance would fall to be financed by a local authority on its revenue account for any year, the cost would be a matter for the local authority to take into account in ordering its priorities between services and in formulating its estimates, within the appropriate overall limits, for that year.
Would the Minister agree that local authorities cannot afford to spend money on coastal protection work in many areas, particularly in the west? Could he tell us the amount of finance available to us from the EEC Regional Fund, and can that finance be extended to include such work?
I have not got that information about the regional fund but I will let the Deputy have it.
Is money available from the regional fund for coastal protection work?
I could not answer that question without checking on the position. I will let the Deputy have the information.
Approximately 30 people are doing coastal protection work at the moment. Does the Minister think that is an adequate number?
I have not got the figures. I have not got details of the extent of the problem. The local authorities deal with this matter out of their own finances and they are assisted by the Department of Finance.
Large parts of the European Community will be eaten away unless adequate finance is given for coastal protection work. There is not enough realisation that the problem exists, particularly on the Atlantic coastline.
There is erosion of the coastline all over Europe. It should not be a major problem in many coastal counties here as far as I am aware.
Is the Minister aware of the serious coast erosion between Portmarnock and Howth? Does he intend to put money at the disposal of Dublin County Council or Dublin Corporation to alleviate this problem?
That is a separate question.
There is no money at my disposal for this purpose. The Department of Finance and the local authorities are responsible for making this money available.