asked the Minister for Communications if he will direct CIE to provide beach nourishment which they promised for Rosslare Strand when the second berth at Rosslare harbour was built; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rosslare Strand.
1.
Since 1978 CIE have supplied about 200,000 cubic metres of beach nourishment material at Rosslare Strand, including 105,000 cubic metres of offshore material provided in 1983. CIE hold that the 1983 provision met the board's commitment for a three year period; that is, up to the end of 1985.
As the Deputy is aware, the Commissioners of Public Works are processing a proposal from Wexford County Council for a new coast protection scheme. In my view this is the only long-term solution to the problem.
Is the Minister aware that the beach at Rosslare has deteriorated significantly over the past ten days because of storms, that the good works carried out by the golf club, local hotel and property owners, Wexford County Council and the Office of Public Works has been negatived to the extent that the coastline there is under threat? Is he aware that Wexford's county engineer has admitted that the coastline may be breached resulting in Rosslare village being cut in two? Will he ensure that CIE will immediately live up to their promise of the provision of beach material?
As the Deputy will know, I visited this strand myself and am acutely conscious of the seriousness of the problem. On the other hand, having looked at this matter carefully, I think the only real solution lies in a long term proposal now being processed by the Office of Public Works whose responsibility it is to look after coastal erosion. I understand that the Office of Public Works and Wexford County Council are in the process of finalising their plans in this matter. I acknowledge that that does not solve the immediate problem but at least if we get the long term proposals processed we shall have begun to tackle the problem.
I accept what the Minister says, that in the long term we must have a definite policy. But is he aware that if we do not do something in the short term there will not be a Rosslare there in the long term? This is quite serious. The county engineer has now admitted that we are in imminent danger and that something must be done in the near future. Will the Minister direct CIE to provide beach nourishment? I am asking him to direct CIE to provide such beach nourishment immediately.
CIE have already done a certain amount of work on this and they feel that their commitment up to the end of 1985 has been fulfilled. The only satisfactory way to deal with this problem is through a permanent, long term solution. That is in the course of being pursued by the Office of Public Works and Wexford County Council. If the situation has deteriorated in the past few days, as the Deputy suggests, I will have my officials examine the matter again urgently to ascertain if there is anything immediate we ought to do pending the long term solution.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I have allowed the Deputy two supplementaries.
Yes, but I put down the question.
I am calling on Deputy Avril Doyle.
In view of the critical situation now obtaining at Rosslare Strand, does the Minister concur with the view of the board of CIE that their 1983 sand nourishment programme relieves them of any further responsibility in that regard until 1986? Nobody else in County Wexford, from the officials right down to the Rosslare Development Association, concurs in that view. In view of the position outlined already would the Minister say whether he feels there will be any need for the capital scheme now under consideration as there is every likelihood that there will be no beach for which to provide a scheme?
As Deputies Doyle and Byrne know, I am acutely conscious of this problem and, at Deputy Doyle's request, I visited the area. I have been under a great deal of pressure from her and other Deputies on this subject. I know that my colleague, the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, has been under similar pressure.
A little bit of the incense. Let us have the substance.
As I understand the position, CIE's role in this arose because of the building of an extension to Rosslare Harbour. As Deputies will know, it is not proper for CIE to have a role in anti-coastal erosion measures; that is proper to the Office of Public Works. They did supply beach nourishment some time ago — 105,000 cubic metres — and they feel that that has discharged their responsibilities. Deputies will be aware that I am introducing legislation to establish a harbour authority in Rosslare. They know there will be some delay involved because it also requires British legislation. Therefore, despite what Deputy H. Byrne is purported to have said in The Wexford People recently, I intend to have meaningful involvement of local people in the running of the port when perhaps they will be able to take some decisions about coastal erosion.
I am delighted to hear the Minister take such an interest in Rosslare that The Wexford People found itself on his desk. Would the Minister please comment on an extract from the national plan where it was said that there would be a suspension of coastal protection services for the duration of the period of the plan? Does that apply to Rosslare?
The Deputy is quite correct; that is provided in the national plan. But that would not prevent a scheme being approved by the Govern-ment if it was of a sufficiently exceptional nature. Whatever doubts I might have, I am sure Deputies H. Byrne and Avril Doyle have no doubts about its urgency.
Does the Minister agree that Rosslare is sufficiently serious to have something done about it immediately?
Will the Minister insist that CIE continue their sand nourishment programme in the spring and summer of 1985 and not wait until 1986 in view of the critical nature of the situation and their responsibility for the strand vis-à-vis the development of the harbour?
I am very reluctant to intervene in any operational matters of any of the State companies under my control. Indeed, many of the problems with our State companies have been occasioned by too much political intervention in what are properly operational matters. Nonetheless, in view of what Deputies have said about developments in recent days, I will have my officials examine the position urgently and establish what urgent action is warranted in view of those circumstances.
Is the Minister aware that on 30 June 1978 a letter written to Wexford County Council contained comments to the effect that Government approval of the development scheme at Rosslare Harbour was subject to the condition that CIE would be responsible for the provision of beach material? Will the Minister ensure that that provision is met by CIE immediately because of the very serious nature of the problem now?
The party of which the Deputy is a member were in Government for three and a half years after that letter was issued and I have to say that not an awful lot was done about the problem in that period. CIE have provided substantial quantities of beach nourishment for the strand, as the Deputy knows——
But there is a breach imminent.
Mr. Mitchell
——and they feel they have discharged their duty. The Deputy does not feel they have discharged their duty; and in view of what he has said about developments in recent days, of which I was not aware, I shall have the matter further examined.