Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:118 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine when he will arrange for the removal of an unauthorised barbed wire fence below the high water mark adjacent to the beach at Drumbeg, Inver, County Donegal.
Written Answers. - Inver (Donegal) Beach.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:124 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the problem of coastal erosion at Inver Beach, County Donegal which has apparently resulted from a local land owner grazing cattle on lands adjacent to the beach; and the steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation and to ensure that the public can have safe and unrestrained use of the beach.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 124 together.
Donegal County Council has primary responsibility for coastal protection in the area. Any activities which may be contributing to coastal erosion are a matter for the local authority in the first instance.
In relation to the question of the barbed wire fence, the position is that the erection of any structure on State foreshore requires a lease or a licence from me under the terms of the Foreshore Act, 1933. Having investigated the particular case, I have now referred the matter to the Chief State Solicitor's office for appropriate legal action.