asked the Minister for Transport when he will instruct CIE either to carry out the necessary works or provide the necessary finance to Wexford County Council for the essential protection works to alleviate coast erosion at Rosslare Strand, County Wexford, because of the building of a second berthage at Rosslare Harbour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rosslare Strand Erosion.
13.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Government approval in 1978 for the construction of a pier and stern loading berth and ancillary facilities at Rosslare Harbour was subject to the condition that CIE would be responsible for the provision of beach material for the nourishment of Rosslare Strand, the question of liability for the cost of provision and placing in position of such material to be determined in consultation with the relevant interests.
Despite protracted discussions with the parties concerned, the question of responsibility for the cost of transporting the beach material to Rosslare Strand has not yet been resolved. I am arranging that an early meeting will be held by my Department with all the interests concerned with a view to resolving this problem and, pending a decision on the question of responsibility for the costs involved, that CIE will continue to provide and transport the necessary beach material to Rosslare Strand.
Will CIE be responsible until an agreement is reached?
(Cavan-Monaghan): It was decided when this arrangement was entered into that the responsibility would be for CIE to provide the material and that the cost of providing, delivering and putting it into position would be agreed upon between the parties concerned. It has not been possible for CIE and Wexford County Council to reach agreement. I am doing my best to bring the parties together again with a view to getting an agreement but, in the meantime, I think CIE should provide and deliver the material.
The Minister might not be aware that since 1978 the beach at Rosslare Strand is diminishing rapidly. In the Wallingford report it was estimated that materials amounting to £50,000 per year would be required. It is three years since that report was published and in some areas at Rosslare Strand the beach has subsided two or three feet. Will the Minister instruct CIE to provide the material for Rosslare Strand?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I agree the decision was taken in 1978. It is my understanding that material was delivered in 1979 but that since then no material has been delivered. The parties to this dispute are CIE and Wexford County Council. If the Deputy does his best with Wexford County Council, I will do my best with CIE.
Wexford County Council provided materials in 1979 at their own expense. From 1978 to 1981 the cost of maintaining coast protection works at Rosslare was increased by 100 per cent in the levy paid to OPW. The pattern of spending from 1978 to 1981 has been increased by 123 per cent. CIE should be responsible for the provision of materials necessary at Rosslare Strand.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I can understand the Deputy's anxiety because this has been going on for three-and-a-half years. I do not want to be scoring points but for three of those years the Deputy had influence and he should have been as energetic during that period as he is now.