Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 6

Written Answers. - Coastal Protection.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

181 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the coastal erosion grants, if any, allocated in 1997 and 1998 to Galway County Council for their programme of coastal erosion works; when the 1998 grant will be made available to the Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8708/98]

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

191 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will make a coastal erosion grant available to Galway County Council for the raising and repairing of coastal erosion at Lackenaley Creek, Mweelon, Maree, Oranmore, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9108/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 191 together.

Funding of some £5.1 million is available for coastal protection works under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services 1994-99. Given this level of resources, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to meet all the demands from local authorities for protection schemes. Every effort, is made, nonetheless, to address particular priorities while ensuring a reasonable geographical distribution of available funds.

My Department has, to date, provided grant aid to three of the four priority coastal protection projects submitted by Galway County Council in 1995 which did not include the location at Oranmore referred to by the Deputy. It was not possible, however to fund any further works in 1997. Given the limited resources available for coast protection, I regret that it is unlikely to be possible to provide grant aid to Galway County Council during the current year.