Vol. 514 No. 2
7 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the level of funding, if any, his Department will allocate for coastal erosion; the areas in which this funding will be applied; the local authorities, if any, which have submitted plans and costings for work to be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3587/00]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the National Development Plan 2000-2006 provides for significantly increased funding for tackling coastal erosion. The total expenditure over the period of the NDP will be £35 million, comprised of £30 million for works and £5 million for a related strategic research programme. This unprecedented level of funding is a clear indication of the Government's commitment to ensuring that the Irish coastline is protected and preserved in the interests of our coastal communities. Coastal protection is an integral part of my policy to enhance the development of coastal regions.
The multi-annual coastal protection programme will address on a prioritised basis urgent coastal erosion problems. The overall strategy will take account of the need to adopt an environmentally friendly approach to coastal protection and the need to ensure value for money. My Department has received numerous proposals for coastal protection works from all local authorities in coastal regions. The cost of the projects put forward as priorities by local authorities for consideration under the last round of Structural Funds was estimated at over £30 million. Consultations are ongoing with the local authorities on identifying and agreeing priority areas of need in accordance with objective strategic criteria which will be tackled over the period of the new programme. I will shortly be announcing the coastal protection programme for 2000 and I have asked the Department to finalise a multi-annual strategic programme for 2001 to 2003 as a priority.
Does the Minister agree that it would be important for the Department to issue some form of priority listing for local authorities which do not have funding to deal with this problem? The Minister will be aware that in some areas houses and roads are almost in the sea at this stage. To plan a programme of work, it will be necessary to give some indication as to when work in certain areas will be done. Will the Minister seriously consider issuing alongside this report some form of priority rating and some indication when funding will be made available, especially for the worst hit areas?
I will shortly announce the coastal protection programme for 2000. We are in discussion with the local authorities to establish the most urgent coastal erosion problems in various coastal counties. I will consider the request to establish a priority list on the basis of the more difficult and urgent cases involving roads and houses.
Déanaim comhgairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagracht úr atá air. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go maith leis ina thréimhse mar Aire na Mara agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha. I know the Minister realises the seriousness of this problem which is becoming progressively more serious with every passing winter storm. In my constituency in Donegal the land mass of the county is vanishing and some of it is sinking into the sea. In many cases houses, farmland, golf links and even graveyards are in great danger. I hope when allocations are made this year they will be made early in the year to enable work to be carried out in the spring and summer. I hope the Minister will give priority to the major difficulties throughout Donegal.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an méid atá ráite aige agus leis na Teachtaí eile. Níl aon dabht ach gur fadhb an-mhór an fhadhb seo. Cosnaíonn sé níos mó ná £1 milliún le gach Km a chur i gceart. It costs more than £1 million to do coastal protection work on one Km of sloped rock armour. It is a very expensive business. Funding of £3.7 million, which is more than four times the previous allocation, was made available in 1999 and £35 million is being provided in the course of the national plan.
I am conscious of the difficulties. I have seen some very good preventive work done in some coastal regions by local communities where, because of the local involvement in caging stones and rocks, the work was done very cost effectively. My Minister of State and I will pay a great deal of attention to this subject. We will examine priorities and the most effective ways of doing work.
I spent two and a half years pursuing my colleague, the Minister for State, to have a small piece of work done in Renvyle where coastal erosion was causing major problems. I am still waiting.
The work is guaranteed now.
Tá sé ag teacht.
Wexford must be done first.
I assure the Deputies that the work in Renvyle will be done.
There will be many more situations like the one in Renvyle. What about Rossaveal?
