Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 1990

Vol. 394 No. 8

Adjournment Debate. - County Wicklow Storm Damage.

Mr. Kavanagh

I should like to share my time with other Deputies from my constituency. Deputy Timmins cannot be present because he has another engagement.

I should like to thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me this time to underline the grave problems which have resulted from a storm which hit the south and east coasts on the night of 16 December last. Since the night of the storm the people in Arklow, Bray, Wicklow and in other villages along the east coast have been living in fear of the return of a similar storm to the one which devastated the north beach in Arklow and put great strain on the esplanade in Bray, thus making it liable to collapse if remedial work is not carried out immediately.

About 200 to 300 people live in the vicinity of the north beach area in Arklow. About £8 million of domestic and industrial property in the area in which about 100 people are employed is threatened by the total collapse of the sand dunes which protect it from the sea. The leisure facilities and car park are also under threat. I was delighted the Minister for the Marine, Deputy John Wilson, visited the area along the Wicklow coast and took note of the problems there. However, I have had to raise this matter on the Adjournment tonight because during the past few days no protection has been afforded to the people living in these areas. Flooding has again occurred and covered the new road leading into the industrial estate in Arklow. At least three factories in that estate have been flooded and this has put into doubt the continued existence of at least two of them. The harbour walls in Arklow are in danger of falling into the sea and this could lead to the closure of the commercial and fishing port there.

As has been indicated to the Minister, the solution to this problem is the provision of 200 metres of rock armoury north of the harbour along the north beach and the carrying out of certain work to the harbour walls. Of course, this is a costly area to repair. Various sections of the Department of the Marine and Wicklow County Council have been considering the provision of money so that the council can carry out these works. The Minister is well aware of the problems in the area. We were very happy he visited the area to see the problems but the people living there are afraid that if the gale turns slightly from the south to the south-east the flooding will wreak havoc on the whole area.

Because there will be a high tide at 11.30 p.m. tonight and there is a force eight gale people are living in considerable fear for their lives and their property. Urgent action needs to be taken. I appeal to the Minister to allow Wicklow County Council to start the remedial work on the rock armoury and to take into account the problems of the Bray esplanade at the same time.

As I said, I want to keep my remarks short so that the other Deputies can get in. However, I want to underline the real urgency of this appeal. This problem cannot wait for a long-term solution; urgent action needs to be taken. Long-term action can take place but it is essential that the sand dunes in the north beach area are replaced with rock armoury and work carried out on the esplanade.

Mr. Roche

First, I should like to thank Deputy Kavanagh for sharing his time with me. I will be sharing my time with Deputy Jacob. The fact that all four Members from County Wicklow will have stood here tonight in the Dáil to underscore this problem is a sign that we do not think this is a party political issue; we believe it is an issue of the gravest concern to the people of County Wicklow.

For a number of years there has been an effective moratorium on any kind of coastal work, irrespective of what Government were in office. We want the Government to take immediate action in this area. The Minister for the Marine, Deputy John Wilson, has been very kind to the people in County Wicklow and both he and his officials visited the area to inspect the damage. Every goodwill he could have shown us he has shown us. As Deputy Kavanagh has said, it is difficult here in the Dáil to underscore the plight of the people along the east coast, which extends from Bray, to Kilcoole, Arklow and further along the south-east coast. There is certainly a need for some long-term schemes to be put in place but in the short-term we need cash for very specific emergency work which has to be carried out.

Deputy Kavanagh referred to the problems in Arklow and I should like to lay specific emphasis on the problems in Bray. The esplanade at the pier in Bray is currently under threat. The same high tide that will potentially devastate the north beach area of Arklow tonight could also be wreaking havoc in Bray. It is absolutely vital that work be undertaken there in the immediate future. The Government need to make provision for a long-term budget for coastal erosion which perhaps could run for four or five years but there is a specific need to protect lives and property in Bray and Arklow tonight. A few moments before this debate started Councillor Pete Mills, Chairman of the Urban District Council, phoned me from Arklow. He, other councillors and staff have been out for the past hour sand-bagging houses for the second time today. The tide has flowed through houses and property and devastated the premises of Arklow Engineering Services. That same tide stands every chance of destroying houses in Bray tonight.

This is not a party political issue; all of us in this House want to find the funds for this work. I have every confidence that the Minister and his staff, together with the local authority, can find this funding. The only thing missing at present is money. I do not care whether this money comes from the Department of the Environment, the Department of the Marine or Santa Claus. I want the money to be provided for this work. That is the message coming from all quarters in County Wicklow tonight.

Mr. Jacob

I appreciate the opportunity of contributing briefly to this debate. In particular, I should like to thank Deputy Kavanagh for sharing his time with us in order to debate this vitally important issue. The fact that he has done so emphasises the enormity of the problem in our constituency, particularly in the town of Arklow. I will not dwell on the technical aspects as these have been comprehensively dealt with by my colleagues. The Minister is fully au fait with the matter having had the good sense to come down and visit us to see the position for himself.

The town of Arklow, most of the remaining industries there, its unfortunate people and their homes are vulnerable to the elements. The most recent storms swept away all the protective structures which in place along the north beach to keep out the sea. It will not require a major storm to cause further massive damage and destruction. Even as I speak, there is flooding in the town and should we get an easterly wind prior to corrective action being taken, the consequences will be disastrous.

In general terms, I feel strongly that insufficient emphasis is placed on coastal protection. During the most recent storms many of our coastal counties took a severe battering, for instance our neighbouring county of Wexford also suffered. In County Wicklow, damage was also caused in Wicklow town, Kilcoole and Bray, where there are serious problems, which need to be addressed as a matter of extreme urgency, as Deputy Roche has said. If there ever was a case where the stitch in time saying could be applied this is it. If we fail to act we will end up having to spend many millions of pounds correcting something which should be corrected now. It has been firmly established that the one area in County Wicklow where immediate, urgent action needs to be taken is the town of Arklow, particularly the north beach, and the port which is of vital importance to the town has been severely damaged.

During the past decade Arklow has seen very hard times. It was once a thriving industrial centre, but it has seen the rundown of the fertiliser and pottery industries which has devastated the town economically. Now, these good people are again being devastated, this time by the elements.

An Ceann Comhairle

I hesitate to interrupt the Deputy, but the time has come to call the Minister to reply. Perhaps, a final word.

Mr. Jacob

I thank the Minister, Deputy Wilson, for visiting my constituency to see the destruction. I now call on him, on the Minister for Finance and on the Government in the strongest possible terms to treat this matter with the urgency it requires and to provide the necessary funding so that remedial works can be carried out immediately. I am convinced there is a grave responsibility on all of us to ensure that this matter is attended to now, not weeks or months hence. Failure to do so may result not only in damage being caused to homes and other property, but may also result in a loss of life.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Wilson)

First, I wish to express my appreciation at the fact that the three Deputies — a fourth Deputy was unavoidably absent — have joined together and co-operated to present their case on behalf of the coastal areas in their constituency so clearly, so effectively and with so much punch. In fact, this House could take a lesson from what they did in trying to achieve something positive, co-operate and stick to the facts.

As far as my Department are concerned, I have responsibility for coastal protection, storm damage does not form part of my brief, but rather is a matter for the local authorities and the Department of the Environment. As Deputies have said, I visited the various areas and I do not have to be persuaded that serious damage was done which presents a danger to the inhabitants in Arklow, particularly at the north beach, and will affect employment. There is a caravan park and holiday amenity located there, and this whole area is in serious danger because the gabions were just thrown aside by the storm and the natural defences were cleared away. It was pointed out to me previously, as it was tonight, that an east wind and a high tide leave the area in a very serious position.

I thank the three Deputies, Deputies Kavanagh, Roche and Jacob — for the clarity with which they put their case and for co-operating in presenting it. I visited Arklow and Bray and have received deputations from further south. I accept that there is a very serious problem. It is scarcely necessary for me to explain that coast protection consists of engineering works, and rock armoury was specifically mentioned by Deputy Kavanagh, to prevent progressive damage to the coastline by the continuing encroachment of the sea. The State's involvement in coast protection has heretofore been defined by the Coast Protection Act, a slow Act, of 1963 which enabled the Commissioners of Public Works to consider proposals for coast protection schemes made by local authorities in accordance with the Act. I understand that since 1963 nearly 100 such proposals were made but only six schemes were completed. Major coast protection projects can cost in the region of £5 million to £10 million. For example, a scheme for Rosslare was estimated at £5.5 million in 1986 and a scheme for Bray at £3.5 million in 1983. The 1990 Estimates make provision of £150,000 in the Vote of Roinn na Mara for coast protection works. The House will be aware that this responsibility passed to my Department at the beginning of this year.

I have no doubt that this problem deserves our most serious attention, and the areas prone to coastal damage are a matter of serious concern. As I said, I see the responsibility for coastal protection as being partially mine, inherited from the Office of Public Works, and storm damage being the responsibility of the local authorities. Let me say to the House, to you, a Cheann Comhairle, and to those Deputies who have made the case, that I am making an attempt to meet the case outlined by the Deputies. At this moment I cannot go any further than that, but I want to assure them that it is a matter of some concern, not just verbal concern, for me and I am directing myself to the objective of doing something about it.

Mr. Kavanagh

Making something available in the budget tomorrow would help.