Coastal Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022

Thursday, 14 July 2022

Questions (347)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

347. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the national coastal change management strategy steering group; the number of times that the group has met since its formation; the current membership of the group; the issues that it has considered; when the group’s findings will be presented to Government and published; if coastal communities affected by coastal erosion and flooding will be engaged with by the group as key stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38858/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Government established the Inter-Departmental Group on Managing Coastal Change to scope out an approach for the development of a national co-ordinated and integrated strategy to manage the projected impact of coastal change to our coastal communities. The purpose of the steering group is to set out a high level scoping report for tackling the issue of sea level change. The membership of the Inter-Departmental Group is set out in the table. The Inter-Departmental Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the OPW and will bring forward options and recommendations for the Government to consider. The Inter-Departmental Group has met on three occasions to date and is also supported by a Technical Working Group. 

The Technical Working Group most recently met in May 2022 to consider the range of data, information and research available across State organisations and that which is needed in the short, medium and longer terms to monitor the projected impact of coastal change associated with sea level rise.

The role of the steering group is to prepare a high level scoping report, which Government will consider. While the views of coastal communities are important, it is likely that they will be engaged with to ascertain their practical views as part of policy responses emerging on foot of the scoping report.

The Inter-Departmental Group Steering Group last met in June 2022 and has now advanced the drafting and finalising of its report considerably.  This Report will be finalised in the coming months and will then be presented to Government for their consideration.

National Coastal Change Zone Management Steering Group

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Office of Public Works

Department of Transport

Met Éireann

SRA (Southern Regional Authority)

GSI (Geological Survey Ireland)

Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine

The County and City Management Association

Local Government Management Authority

Climate Action Regional Office

Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform