Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 February 2014
121. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to protect an area (details supplied) in County Wexford from further coastal erosion and flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7298/14]
View answerThe investigation and addressing of coastal erosion and flooding problems in Wexford, including the location referred to by the Deputy, are matters for Wexford County Council in the first instance. If the Council decides that upgrading of existing defences or construction of new defences is required, it is open to it to apply for funding to the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Minor Flood Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Any such application would be considered in light of applications from local authorities generally and having regard to the OPW's overall availability of resources.
Wexford County Council submitted an application in 2012 under the Office of Public Works Minor Works Scheme for coastal protection works at St. Kieran's Wall, Bannow Bay. The OPW wrote to the Council in March, 2013 requesting further information on this application, including a requirement for a revised cost-benefit analysis. This has not been provided to date.
With regard to existing defences, the OPW wrote on 10th January to City and County Managers in coastal areas indicating that it will accept applications under the 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 OPW's website www.opw.ie under Flood Risk Management. The work for which funding is sought will be carried out by the Local Authorities.
It is also open to the Council to carry out works using its own resources.
