Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
225. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when funding will be provided to Donegal County Council for works for a sea wall which is to be built in County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2471/24]
View answerCoastal protection and localised flooding issues are matters, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address. To assist Local Authorities in managing the coastline for coastal erosion, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has undertaken a national assessment of coastal erosion (including erosion rates) under the Irish Coastal Protection Strategy Study (ICPSS) and the results of this study have been published on the OPW website. This data enables Local Authorities to develop appropriate plans and strategies for the sustainable management of the coastline in their counties.
The report of the Inter-Departmental Group on National Coastal Change Management Strategy was published in October 2023. This report contains a range of recommendations centred on developing management responses to coastal change over the short, medium and longer terms and providing a comprehensive whole of Government approach to the development of the range of policy responses that the challenge of coastal change encompasses. With regard to short-term measures, the report included a recommendation for local authorities to continue to identify potentially vulnerable locations that could be affected by coastal change, and to engage with local communities to help ascertain the most appropriate interventions.
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. Applications for funding from local authorities for measures, or studies, costing up to €750,000 can be made under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the total cost is available, subject to meeting specific economic, technical, social, and environmental criteria.
Following an application by Donegal County Council, the OPW approved funding to undertake a Coastal Flooding and Erosion Risk Management (CFERM) study at multiple locations including Magheraroarty, in 2018. The aim of the study was to inform the appropriate measures necessary to address the coastal erosion risk into the future and identify any measures necessary to manage that risk. The draft study was completed by Donegal County Council in 2022.
At present, no request for funding has been received by the OPW, from Donegal County Council, for proposed works at Magheraroarty. Donegal County Council can submit a further application for additional funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, for sea walls or other risk management measures at this location. The OPW will review and assess any such application in line with the relevant eligibility criteria.
