Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2015
103. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the significant levels of coastal erosion which are occurring at a coastal location (details supplied) in County Donegal; if he acknowledges the suffering and anxiety which this situation is causing the local coastal community; his plans to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12542/15]
View answerLocal flooding and coastal erosion issues are matters for Local Authorities to investigate and address in the first instance and Donegal County Council (DCC) may carry out flood mitigation and coastal protection works using its own resources.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government and I are cognisant that coastal erosion may in some instances give rise to a significant threat to infrastructure, properties and/or public safety, which can cause hardship and concern to those affected. The Government Decision of 11th February, 2014 allocated total funding of up to €19.6m for the repair of existing coastal protection and flood defences damaged in the severe weather in late 2013 and early 2014 based on submissions made by the relevant local authorities to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. A total sum of €662,000 was allocated to DCC under the Government Decision. The local authorities submitted to the Office of Public Works (OPW) programmes of repair works setting out how they intended to spend their allocations. DCC's programme of works included for works in four locations in the Inishowen area but it did not include works at Ballyliffin and as a result there is no specific provision for works at Ballyliffin in the total sum of €662,000 allocated to it under the Government Decision. As it was not included in DCC's programme, any proposals for works in that location must be considered outside of the Government Decision.
The OPW operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. It is not available for repair of damaged infrastructure or for maintenance of existing flood defence or coastal protection assets. A Local Authority may apply to the OPW for support under the scheme having regard to those eligibility criteria. Application forms are available on OPW's website under Flood Risk Management and decisions are made having regard to the overall availability of funding for flood risk management.
