Written Answers. - Donegal Coastal Erosion.
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Question:
46
Mr. Gallagher (Donegal South West)
asked the
Minister for the Marine
the plans, if any, he has to protect areas of the coast of County Donegal from the effects of erosion; if he inspected coastal areas which have been seriously damaged during his visit to Donegal; and the reason Donegal was not included in the recent Coastal Protection Programme.
[14943/95]
Mary Coughlan
Question:
58
Miss Coughlan
asked the
Minister for the Marine
the reason funding has not been made available to Donegal County Council for coastal protection under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services, 1994 to 1999; the criteria under which the council application has been refused; and if he will now make additional funding available as a matter of urgency to Donegal County Council.
[14602/95]
I propose taking Questions Nos. 46 and 58 together.
Under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services 1994 to 1999 some £5.1 million is being invested in priority coastal protection works. In order to identify projects for possible funding under the operational programme, all coastal local authorities were invited to submit details of their top four priority proposals. Donegal County Council submitted proposals for coastal protection works at seven locations, costing a total of £1.041 million.
As I am sure the Deputies will understand, the total cost of all the works proposed by the various local authorities far exceeds the funding that is available to 1999. Therefore, all coastal local authorities were advised that there were no guarantees that any of the proposals submitted would be aided by the Department under the operational programme. That being said, it is the Department's intention to address as many of the priority proposals as possible in the context of the funds available.
All the proposals submitted to the Department by the coastal local authorities have been examined and in general they meet eligibility criteria. Arising from the examination of the proposals and discussions with local authorities a number of projects, costing some £735,000, have been identified for undertaking in 1995. These protection works are being undertaken directly by the local authorities and are being 75 per cent aided under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services. The projects being undertaken this year represent the start of efforts to help coastal local authorities to address priority works. This process will continue next year and each year thereafter until 1999.
I would like to make specific reference to Donegal and my recent visit there. My visit was undertaken to see at first hand the situation at a number of piers and harbours and meet with local interests rather than to visit locations suffering from erosion. That being said, I am aware of the erosion problem both nationally and specifically at the locations identified by Donegal County Council.
The proposals submitted by Donegal County Council have not been aided this year, nor indeed have proposals submitted by Louth, Cork, Waterford and a number of other county councils. But as I have said, the process of addressing priority works is ongoing and all locations identified by the local authorities will be considered over the period of the operational programme. Therefore, the fact that no works are being aided in County Donegal in 1995 does not mean that works will not be aided in 1996 or subsequent years.
Finally, I have referred to the fact that the total value of the proposals identified by the coastal local authorities far exceeds the funding available under the operational programme. In view of this and the seriousness of the erosion problem around our coast, I will be making every effort to secure increased funding for this area.
