Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 3

Written Answers. - Coastal Erosion Management Plan.

Liz McManus

Question:

39 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Marine the plans, if any, there are to draw up a coastal erosion management plan in particular to protect coastal regions that are populated and to ensure that financial commitments are made to deal with the most pressing cases.

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine (Mr. G. O'Sullivan)

I have received a copy of the report of the National Coastal Erosion Committee, "Coastal Management — A Case for Action". This is a valuable report in that it indicates the extent of the coastal erosion problem affecting the Irish coastline. The report is particularly welcome in that it should help raise the awareness generally about coastal and marine problems. The report also contains recommendations regarding the institutional and legal framework which might be adopted to implement a comprehensive coast protection programme.

Primary responsibility for coast protection rests with local coastal authorities, some of which have undertaken protection work themselves. The role of the Department of the Marine is to facilitate the implementation of permanent protection schemes, where warranted, to prevent progressive erosion by the sea.

In order to formulate a programme of coast protection works for the next few years, the Department of the Marine wrote to all maritime local autorities in 1991 requesting them to submit a list of priorities for coastal protection projects which they consider would be warranted and feasible and for which they are prepared to make funds available. Drawing,inter alia, on the submissions received from local authorities, plans for a comprehensive coast protection programme have been drawn up in the context of the allocation of the next round of Structural Funds. Decisions have yet to be made by the Government on the priority and funding to be attached to this programme.

As regards a coastal protection scheme for the South Dublin coastline from Killiney to Bray, the only proposals I have received from the local authorities concerned relate to Bray and Killiney. The position in relation to Bray, County Wicklow is that the Department has received in 1992 the results of a model study of the coastal protection needs at Bray. This report will form the basis of any coastal protection work undertaken there. In regard to Killiney, a proposal was received from Dún Laoghaire Corporation for a coast protection scheme at Killiney and this, as well as the Bray study, will be taken into account by the Department in drawing up detailed proposals for the implementation of any coast protection programme which may be approved under the Structural Funds.