Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - Coastal Protection.

John Bruton

Question:

128 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason he has failed to provide any funds out of the budget of £5 million to Meath County Council for coastal protection and beach retention works along the east Meath coastline in spite of the fact the works required are deemed to be urgent; the reason he never acknowledged the detailed applications lodged by the council for funds towards coastal protection works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7597/99]

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

Under the operational programme for environmental services I994-9, grant-aid of £135,000 was made available to Meath County Council in 1995 and 1996 towards a coast protection scheme at Laytown costing £180,000. In 1997, the Department provided further financial assistance to the local authority towards the undertaking of a study on erosion problems and suitable protection techniques for the Meath coastline generally. The report, prepared for the county council by consulting engineers, recommended that coast protection works with an estimated cost in excess of £2 million be undertaken.

Meath County Council applied to my Department last year for financial assistance towards implementation of the recommendations contained in the consultants' report. In view of the considerable calls on the funding available for coast protection in 1998, it was not possible, however, to make any funding available to the local authority in respect of the proposed scheme. The county council was informed accordingly on 22 October 1998.

I recently announced my Department's coast protection programme for 1999, under which financial assistance will be provided for projects with a total cost of some f:4.7 million. In view of the many competing demands on the funding available for coast protection and the urgent need for works at many locations right around the coast as well as the level of commitments on hand and prior requests for funding, it was not possible on this occasion to allocate moneys for works in County Meath. The requirements of the east Meath area will, however, receive further careful consideration in the drawing-up of future coast protection programmes.