Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 2

Written Answers. - Coastal Protection.

Noel Dempsey

Question:

271 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Marine if he will address the situation where urgently required funding for coastal protection for the seven priority projects is needed, particularly as Donegal, a leading tourist county, received no funding in 1995. [4171/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

To date no grant-aid has been provided to Donegal County Council under the coastal protection sub-programme of the environmental services operational programme 1994-99. The funding available is limited to £5.1 million over the life of the programme. Demand levels, on the other hand, exceed £25 million. In these circumstances the coastal local authorities have been advised that it will not be possible to aid all of the priority proposals submitted.

As I said, Donegal County Council's proposals have not been grant-aided to date but the process of addressing priority works is ongoing. All locations identified by the local authorities, including Donegal County Council, will be considered over the period of the operational programme. The fact that no works have been aided so far in County Donegal does not mean that works will not be aided between now and 1999.