Dermot Ahern
Question:224 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the coastal erosion in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Coastal Erosion.
I have received a copy of the county and city engineers association's national coastal erosion committee's report on "Costal Management — A Case for Action". This valuable report outlines the extent of the coastal erosion problem affecting the Irish coastline, including the County Louth coastline.
The Department of the Marine is currently drawing up a coastal protection programme to be implemented over the next six years.
However, as I am sure the Deputy can imagine the costs of coastal protection projects identified far exceeds the £5.5 million that will be available for this purpose under the National Development Plan. Therefore, the Department will only be able to grant-aid local authorities in respect of the most urgent coastal erosion problems having regard to economic, environmental and ecological impacts.
Further consultation with the relevant local authorities will be required before a list of urgent coastal erosion projects for inclusion in the programme can be finalised. In addition, an operational programme to enable EU funding to be drawn down to subvent the programme's implementation remains to be agreed with the Commission of the European Union. Pending completion of these exercises it is not possible to identify what works in County Louth, if any, may be included in the finalised programme.