Vol. 397 No. 2
19 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Marine , in light of the recent storms which have hit the Irish coastal area with such disastrous consequences, if he will outline an extensive action programme to tackle the widespread damage; if the moneys provided are above and beyond that which is provided for in normal budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine if he has received a report from the inspectors who visited the Magharees Peninsula in January 1990 to assess storm damage; if he will make the report public; and the steps he intends taking to implement the recommendation in the report to alleviate flooding and coastal erosion.
30 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine if he will provide moneys for the replacement of the sea wall at Tramore, County Waterford, which was destroyed by the storms of recent months.
34 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Marine if there are any plans to amend the Coast Protection Act, 1963, in order that the 50 per cent element of local financing will be considerably reduced or eliminated.
48 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give a report on any permanent damage done to any amenities falling within his area of responsibility; if he has any plans or proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
67 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Marine if he will allocate resources to alleviate damage caused by flooding on recently drained land at Murvagh, Ballintra and Laghey, County Donegal as a result of erosion.
68 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for the Marine if he has any plans to deal with the serious problem of coastal erosion in the Laytown/Bettystown/ Gormanston areas of County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Limerick West): I intend answering Questions Nos. 19, 20, 30, 34, 48, 67 and 68 together.
I have already outlined my views in relation to the Coast Protection Act, 1963, when replying to parliamentary questions on 13 February 1990. The question relating to the continued operation of the Act and the State contribution towards the cost of protection schemes, will be considered in the context of the proposed review to which I referred in that reply.
Apart from the question of undertaking coast protection works, where progressive erosion by the sea is evident, there is the problem of damage to properties and sea defences caused by occasional or abnormal storms, such as occurred over recent months. The Government set up a special Cabinet sub-committee, as an emergency measure following the persistent bad weather to report on storm damage. Deputy Wilson is a member of this committee and he arranged for engineers from the Department to prepare a report, for the benefit of the committee, detailing damage caused to our coasts in recent weeks. While I cannot give any specific commitments, concerning locations referred to by Deputies in their questions, I can assure the House that the Government and the Cabinet sub-committee are determined to deal with this problem as equitably and speedily as possible. Each coastal county's case for funds will be given every consideration by the committee.
Will the Minister be able to give adequate finance to deal with the damage outlined in the questions? It is important that the House should be given an assurance that finance will be available to repair any damage caused.
(Limerick West): Every consideration will be given to applications from coastal counties for funds by the Cabinet sub-committee.
When will the Cabinet sub-committee report to the Government? That committee were set up four or five weeks ago and they should be in a position to report to the Government now. The Minister for the Environment indicated that the Cabinet sub-committee admitted that the Finance Acts were inadequate to deal with such problems. I should like to know if they are considering changing the legislation to deal with such problems.
(Limerick West): The sub-committee will be reporting to the Government very shortly.
How soon is "very shortly"?
(Limerick West): The Deputy will appreciate that a decision cannot be made on these matters overnight. Detailed engineering investigations have to be carried out.
The local authorities concerned made their submissions some weeks ago.
(Limerick West): They must be examined. The report will be with the Government shortly. The Deputy can be assured that every application will be looked at.
Will the Minister accept that to a large extent the damage caused by the storms was partly because of the fact that the local authorities who are awaiting approval for coastal protection schemes have been frustrated by the cumbersome procedures laid down in the Coast Protection Act? Will the Minister give an undertaking that those procedures will be speeded up in an amended Coast Protection Act? Will the Minister amend the Act so that finance can be made available for coastal protection works in an effort to prevent damage being caused by storms in the future?
(Limerick West): That matter will be examined. I should like to point out to the Deputy that my Department took over responsibility for coastal protection from 1 January.
