Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
164 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will allocate funding to Clare County Council for remedial measures to protect the road at Ross Bay, Kilbaha, County Clare from the sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33137/04]
View answerResponsibility for coast protection rests with the property owner, whether it be a local authority or a private individual. In July 2002 my Department requested all coastal local authorities to submit proposals, in order of priority, for consideration in the context of the 2003-06 national coast protection programmes. Clare County Council submitted a number of proposals for coast protection works, including proposed works at Ross, Kilbaha, estimated at €600,000. This proposal was number seven in the county council's order of priority. There was no Exchequer funding for this project in 2004. The question of funding this proposal in the post-2004 period will be considered in the context of the Exchequer allocation for coast protection works and overall national priorities.
165 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the criteria his Department applied when establishing priorities for coastal protection projects; if there is a priority regime in place which promotes the protection of county roads over the protection of individual homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33155/04]
View answerPrimary responsibility for coast protection rests with the property owner, whether it be a local authority or a private individual. The priority is to safeguard human life and protect public property, including roads and other public infrastructures and amenities. My Department has no funding available for the protection of private property.
In July 2002 the Department invited all coastal local authorities to submit proposals, in order of priority, for consideration in the 2003-06 period. All proposals received are carefully examined in the Department in accordance with priority criteria as follows: protect public safety, public property or infrastructure; protect areas of socio-economic, tourism or recreational importance; support the economic development or increase the economic potential of coastal regions; provide essential protection for areas or features of environmental or heritage significance; and avert the need for costly remedial works at a later stage.
