I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment. Since I first became a member of Dublin County Council some ten years ago, I have been campaigning for a coastal protection scheme at The Burrow, Portrane. I can see the beach from my home and have witnessed the slow erosion of the dunes structure which has taken place over the past 20 years and has been exacerbated in recent years by increased incidents of storm damage.
The Burrow area is saucer-shaped and the erosion has reached the tip of the saucer. When it reaches the last remaining dune, hundreds of acres of lands, homes, both permanent and summer residences, will be destroyed. The residents are deeply concerned and living in fear of another storm. Similar problems exist at The Velvet Strand, Portmarnock, Loughshinny Harbour, North Shore, Skerries, Barnageera, areas south of Balbriggan Harbour and Corballis, Donabate. These areas have been identified by Dublin County Council to the Department. These examples show the extent of coastal erosion problems nationwide. I wish to compliment the County and City Engineers Association on publishing their report, Coastal Management, A case for Action. I have read the report and recommended it to the Minister and his officials.
Our total coastline is 5,800 kilometres. The report states that 1,500 kilometres of coastline are at risk at present and 490 kilometres require immediate attention at an approximate cost of £125 million. This is a staggering cost, given the Government's current financial position. We have never really appreciated our coastline and its unique potential in terms of the economy and environment. Our coastline has great tourism potential but we must protect it before it is too late. It is reported that within the next 30 years or so our coastline will come under increasing environmental pressure.
I wish to refer also to the question of harbour and pier maintenance and to the neglect in that regard. This is an area which is very important in terms of tourism and related activities and of the livelihoods of fishermen. The harbours at Rush, Loughshinny, Skerries and Balbriggan, for instance, are in need of urgent attention. As a member of a local authority, I am aware of the lack of funding generally but money must be found to deal with what I regard as a crisis so far as our coastline is concerned.
In the past the EC has tended not to finance coastal protection schemes. However, I appeal to the Minister and the Government to make a submission for EC Structural Funding in this regard. This is an appropriate time to raise this issue and, if successful, it will enable us to implement a coastal management programme to protect and secure our coastline which is arguably one of the most scenic in Europe and, therefore, has great tourism potential.
Having read the report I support the desirability of setting up a national coastal authority within the Department of the Marine. This agency would be responsible for all coastal matters and would have a regulatory role in developing our coastline. I know of the Minister's deep concern regarding these matters and look forward to his favourable response.
