asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the scheme of work at present being employed in an effort to arrest coast erosion at Rosslare Strand.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Erosion at Rosslare Strand.
7.
The works being carried out at Rosslare which were agreed with the Wexford County Engineer are as follows:—
1. A survey and float test.
2. The erection of experimental groynes along the beach.
3. Direct protection works along the portions of the coast considered by the County Engineer to be most urgently in need of protection, and where such works would yield useful information.
The survey and float tests having been made, direct protection works were done at the selected places and groynes, wavescreens and wind breaks were erected.
The direct protection works consisted of large concrete blocks placed in line at the head of the beach. Groynes of various types were used— trapezoidal concrete blocks, stones in gabion baskets and wooden stakes driven into the beach—to determine the most economical and effective type. All were more or less effective but the experiments have shown that a groyne of closely driven timber stakes is the most satisfactory. The length of the beach from the Churchyard immediately south of the village to a point half way up the Spit, has been groyned and the intervals at which they have been placed is being closely watched. The windbreaks and wavescreens have also proved useful and are under observation.
The works completed to date are effective in building of beach levels but the results are in their nature slow and artificial nourishment of the groynes is being tried. I am advised that the effects of the work are encouraging and that the work is proceeding on sound lines.