(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.