Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 8

Written Answers. - ECOPRO Programme.

Brendan Kenneally

Question:

29 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine the way in which the 900,000 ECU was expended which was provided under the ECOPRO Programme and which arose out of a joint project involving his Department, Eolas and the local authorities for Wexford, Waterford, Kerry and Clare. [11098/95]

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine (Mr. Gilmore)

In November 1992 a contract was agreed between Eolas, now part of Forbairt, and the Commission of the European Communities to carry out, in conjunction with a number of project partners, a project entitled ECOPRO, Environmentally Friendly Coast Protection.

The partners associated with the ECOPRO project are: the Department of the Marine: Wexford, Waterford, Kerry and Clare County Councils; the National Trust for Northern Ireland; the Department of the Environment — Northern Ireland; the Danish Coast Authority; and Coastwatch Europe.

The total cost of the project was estimated at 1.8 million ECU towards which the Commission of the European Communities would contribute 0.9 million ECU. As an associated partner, the Department of the Marine is eligible for EU funding totalling 517,233 ECU or approximately £385,000 towards its activities under the project.

The overall aim of the ECOPRO project is to promote the use of soft engineering coastal protection techniques by, firstly giving reference information on the dynamics of the coast. This will help the coastal authority and landowner to understand the nature of erosion. Secondly, the project will detail a methodology which will enable the sensitivity of the coast to erosion to be graded and thirdly, information will be given on how to protect the coast in the most environmentally friendly way.

The beach nourishment demonstration scheme under ECOPRO is being undertaken by the Department at Rosslare Strand. County Wexford. The ECOPRO scheme at Rosslare involves the provision of rock groynes to slow down the littoral drift of sediment along the beach. Beach sediment is trapped by the groynes resulting in a widening of the beach. Some 162,000 cubic metres of nourishment material was also provided to replenish the beach. The initial assessment of the ongoing monitoring demonstrates the effectiveness of the scheme.

The total cost of the ECOPRO works at Rosslare Strand amounts to £1.351 million approximately. The EU is providing some £385,000 towards this total. Irish Rail is contributing £220,000 in respect of its obligations to provide nourishment at Rosslare Strand. Approximately £375,000 is being provided by Wexford County Council. The balance, some £371,000 is being paid for by the Department of the Marine. The additional costs incurred by the Department on the ECOPRO project for tasks such as coastline monitoring, drafting of the sensitivity index and codes of practice and the project management tasks including design and monitoring of works are being absorbed by the Department.

To date some 40 per cent of the Department's expected EU contribution has been received i.e. some £154,000. A second instalment of 40 per cent is expected shortly. The remaining 20 per cent will be paid by the EU upon completion of the project which is scheduled for mid 1996.