Vol. 434 No. 10
52 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine if he has received proposals from Mayo County Council to combat coastal erosion on the Mayo coast; the estimated cost of providing protection works to deal with this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In order to draw up a list of national coast protection priorities consultations have been held with and submissions sought from the various coastal local authorities. The submissions received identified local coast protection needs. The submission forwarded by Mayo County Council identified a large number of sites requiring attention. The cost of the works identified by Mayo County Council alone exceeds £6 million.
Under the National Development Plan it is envisaged that £5.5 million will be spent over the 1994 to 1999 period on coast protection projects with the support of Structural Funds aid. In order to maximise the return from the spending it is intended to identify priority projects for inclusion in the Department of the Marine's coast protection programme. Finalisation of a list of priority projects and the nature of the works to be undertaken is subject to further detailed discussion with the coastal local authorities and agreement of an operational programme with the Commission of the European Communities.
Among the criteria that will be applied to the final listing will be the value of the infrastructure at risk, the imminence of the risk and cost of protection works and of maintaining these works over their designed lifetime. Of particular concern will be the maintenance of local infrastructure, tourist amenities and transport links to isolated communities.
In thanking the Minister for his reply may I suggest, given the allocation of £5.5 million, that little will be done between 1993 and 1999? I put it to him that Mayo County Council estimates that there would be work for 1,000 men for ten years if coast protection works from Louisburgh, Leckanvy, Murrisk, Bertra, Mulrany and Achill to Erris were carried out. Some of the applications put forward in respect of areas where work requires to be done meet the criteria laid down by the Minister, in terms of tourist facilities and transport services to isolated communities. I ask the Minister to consider including some of these projects on the priority list for 1993 to 1999.
I take the Deputy's point and I have the greatest of sympathy for the views expressed by him. If he wishes to put forward any projects, in addition to the ones put forward by Mayo County Council, that should be given priority I would be glad to hear from him. For example, it is hoped to commence a dune management scheme at Bertra Beach, Westport, County Mayo, in the final months of this year. This is currently being considered by Mayo County Council. I accept that there is a serious problem. I would remind the Deputy that while a sum of £5.5 million is to be made available for coast erosion works over the lifetime of this plan that last year only £200,000 was made available. I am sure that Deputy Barrett and Deputy McManus would agree that the amount of money that was on offer during the past 12 months would not have been adequate in carrying out works at Killiney Bay or at Bray or other parts of Wicklow. Therefore the figure of £5.5 million represents a considerable improvement.
It is derisory.
What about the south-west?
I suppose one could say the boat in which the Structural Funds were being brought back sprang a leak.
The Minister's colleagues let him down.
My colleagues have never let me down; we are all in this together. "Unity" is the word.
There is a hole in the bucket at this stage; it is bigger then the hole in the ozone layer.
I call Deputy McManus for a final brief question.
The Minister is too much of a gentleman.
The worst thing one can say about a politician is that he is a nice guy.
Some politicians are not nice guys, they are nice girls.
Nice person is the correct term.
In welcoming the fact that provision has been made for coast protection works in the National Development Plan I put it to the Minister that up to now local authorities have been expected to carry a heavy load under the legislation and that as a consequence work on many schemes has not proceeded. Will the Department expect the local authorities to do the same under this new plan or is it the case that they will not be expected to carry an unequal share of the burden?
I have the greatest sympathy for the local authorities. As I do not want to mislead the Deputy or the House, I should say I would not be too optimistic. I am not certain that I will be able to come to the aid of local authorities in the immediate future but given what the Deputy has said I will give the matter some consideration. I should say that I am aware of the problem.
That disposes of questions for today.
I would like Question No. 57 to remain on the Order Paper for oral answer on the next occasion the Minister is due to respond at Question Time.
