John V. Farrelly
Ceist:27 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for the Marine if he will list the schemes which have been carried out under the Coast Protection Act, 1963, to prevent coastal erosion; the cost in each case; and the date of completion.
Written Answers. - Coast Protection Works.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:28 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine the measures he is taking, under the Coast Protection Act, 1963, to asssist local authorities and private individuals whose property suffered serious damage in the storm of 16 and 17 December 1989 and where further serious damage is likely, unless protection is provided as a matter of urgency.
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:47 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make special funds available to Kerry County Council to repair the damage caused to the coastline by the recent storms.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:56 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give an estimate of the damage caused by the storm of 16 and 17 December 1989 in coastal areas; and if financial assistance will be made available to local authorities, and private individuals whose property suffered damage, to carry out temporary repairs.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:89 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine the funds he intends to make available to compensate individuals who suffered damage to their property in coastal areas in County Waterford following the storms on 16 and 17 December 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:90 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine the funds he will make available to Waterford County Council to make good the damage arising from the storms of 16 and 17 December 1989; the provisions he intends to make to carry out the necessary work to ensure that similar damage does not happen in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 27, 28, 47, 56, 89 and 90 together.
State funding for coast protection has been transferred from the Commissioners of Public Works to my Department from 1 January 1990. Under the Coast Protection Act, 1963, local authorities may propose protection schemes, to be undertaken by the Commissioners of Public Works, provided that there is progressive encroachment of the sea as distinct from occasional or abnormal storms. Since 1963, six schemes were undertaken in accordance with the Act. I have included a tabular statement for publication in the Official Report.
I intend to carry out a fundamental review of procedures for State funding of coast protection. I am not persuaded, for the present at any rate, that the coast Protection Act is necessarily the best vehicle for dealing with proposals for such schemes. I am aware of the considerable dissatisfaction that has been expressed at the long and complex procedures, required by the Act.
I do not propose, however, to change the existing procedure whereby local authorities are primarily responsible for coast protection. This includes identifying coastlines subject to erosion, dealing with day to day maintenance of the coastline and responding to the aftermath of occasional storms. My Department's role will be to facilitate the implementation of permanent schemes, where warranted, to prevent progressive erosion by the sea.
I do not have an estimate of the damage caused by recent storms but I am aware that it was quite considerable. I am at present assessing the damages to the coastline which will require coast protection measures. It is clear that such measures will require a substantial programme of coast protection activity but at this stage my Department does not have the resources for such a programme.
I was fortunate in being able to secure emergency funds to assist Wicklow County Council with the severe erosion problem at North Beach in Arklow. I regret that I am unable to make similar funds available to other local authorities which are faced with these unforseen coast protection problems. I would, nevertheless, like to assure Deputies that I am pursuing all available avenues, including the EC, in search of additional resources.
The scale of funding required for coast protection schemes is very substantial. Individual schemes can cost in the region of £5 million each. The OPW had applications for about 85 such schemes. It is therefore clear that coast protection problems will require a sustained programme over a lengthy period of time.
I have replied at length to these questions, because I want Deputies to appreciate that no magic wand exists to solve long-standing erosion problems, the causes of which can seldom be judged without close study and observation over a period of time.
Coast Protection Schemes completed under the Coast Protection Act, 1963
|
Scheme |
Completed |
Approximate Cost |
|
£ |
||
|
The Murrough, County Wicklow |
1971 |
56,600 |
|
Youghal, County Cork |
1974 |
174,300 |
|
Moville, County Donegal |
1972 |
34,000 |
|
Strandhill, County Sligo |
1973 |
22,400 |
|
Rossnowlagh, County Donegal |
1974 |
43,000 |
|
Enniscrone, County Sligo |
1981 |
670,000 |