Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2014
34. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funds that will be available to deal with the serious problem of coastal erosion at the Burrow in Portrane, both in terms of the emergency works required as a result of recent damage and in respect of a more sustainable longer-term solution. [2576/14]
View answerThe investigation and addressing of coastal protection problems at this location are matters for Fingal County Council in the first instance. In February, 2013 the Office of Public Works approved funding of €57,800 to the Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme to undertake a coastal erosion and risk management study for Portrane/Rush. This funding has been drawn down by the Council on completion of the report. It is a matter for the Council to act on the findings of the study report. It is open to the Council to apply to OPW for funding for works at this location under the Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the eligibility criteria, which include a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding.
The Office of Public Works wrote on 10th January, 2014 to City and County Managers in coastal areas indicating that it will accept applications under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for funding to assist with repairs to built flood defences and coastal protection structures which have been damaged by the recent storms. This is a once-off measure to reinstate built coastal defences to their pre-storm condition. The specific application form for this, entitled Coastal Storm Damage Flooding Questionnaire 2014, is available on the OPW's website, www.opw.ie, under Flood Risk Management. Any work for which funding is sought will be carried out by the Local Authorities.
It is open also to Fingal County Council to carry out flood mitigation and coastal protection works using its own resources.
