(Limerick West): My Department have no proposals for a coast protection scheme for the south County Dublin coastline. The primary responsibility for coast protection does however rest with the relevant local authorities.
As I indicated to the Dáil on 13 February 1990, I was not then persuaded that the Coast Protection Act, 1963 was necessarily the best vehicle for dealing with proposals for coast protection schemes. I am also aware of the considerable dissatisfaction that has been expressed at the long and complex procedures required by that Act. A more flexible approach has since been adopted. The policy of my Department is to facilitate the implementation of permanent schemes, where warranted, to prevent progressive erosion by the sea subject of course to availability of adequate finance.