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Coastal Erosion

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Questions (115, 134)

Frank Feighan

Question:

115. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the State and EU funding available through the OPW to enable studies, investigations and other coastal protection works to be conducted that aim to limit the damaging effects of costal erosion in villages here; the way in which this funding is applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3939/20]

View answer

Frank Feighan

Question:

134. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding the OPW has spent and allocated towards the costs of conducting studies and reports aimed at combating the effects of climate change and costal erosion since 2011, by county in tabular format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4712/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 134 together.

In the context of coastal erosion: The OPW and other Central Government Departments provide support, where possible, to Local Authorities around the country tackling coastal erosion. It is the responsibility of each Local Authority, in the first instance, to assess and address problems of coastal erosion in their own areas. The primary funding mechanism offered through the OPW for this is the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Under this scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, and the allocation of funding for the Minor Works scheme will be included in the overall allocation for flood risk management investment included under Vote 13 (Office of Public Works) in the Estimates for Public Services for 2020.

The table below outlines allocations and/or drawdowns for coastal/erosion risk management studies, per county, since 2011.

County

No. Studies

Clare

5

EUR503,568 allocated / drawn down

Donegal

5

EUR382,500 allocated

EUR76,500 drawn-down (1x study)

Fingal

1

EUR57,800 allocated / drawn down

Kerry

2

EUR225,000 allocated

Not yet drawn down

Louth

1

EUR81,000 allocated

EUR38,883 drawn-down to-date

Sligo

1

EUR57,055 allocated

€45,644.00 drawn-down to-date

Wexford

1

EUR28,800 allocated / drawn down

In the context of climate change: Consideration of the impacts of climate change is integral to the development and design for all flood relief schemes progressed by the OPW and its Local Authority partners.

It is not feasible, therefore, to provide budget-breakdowns of all activities specific to climate-change in the context of individual flood relief schemes under the Capital Flood Relief Programme, or overall expenditure in respect of flood risk management more generally. The OPW has, however, co-funded a number of specific national climate change research projects, as follows:

2016 - ‘Downscaling for Decision Making: Irish Climate Futures’:

OPW contribution: €78,537.20

2019 - ‘Sensitivity of fluvial flood peak flows to a changing climate’ (NUI Maynooth):

OPW contribution: € 157,863.60

2019 - ‘High-Resolution Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean-Wave Regional Climate Projections for Ireland’ (NUI Galway):

OPW contribution: € 43,748.75

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