Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 6

Written Answers. - Coastal Protection Projects.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

275 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine if he has received from Mayo County Council a list of coastal protection works which require immediate attention; the estimated cost of such works; the amount of money made available by his Department in respect of coastal erosion works for County Mayo for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [728/94]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

In 1993 Mayo County Council submitted a list of coastal protection projects for consideration by the Department of the Marine. The submission identified a large number of locations requiring attention, the cost of which was estimated at in excess of £6 million.

Since 1989 some £237,000 has been spent on coastal protection works in County Mayo. In 1990 £202,000 was provided to the council in respect of storm damage arising from the severe storms that took place during winter 1989-1990. A further £35,000 is being spent on a dune management scheme at Bertra Beach. This scheme commenced late last year and will be completed this year.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

276 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine if his Department has a coastal erosion policy; the amount of money available for protection of coastal areas for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [729/94]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

Under the National Development Plan some £5 million is being made available over the period to 1999 to assist in addressing the priority erosion problems of coastal areas. The primary objective will be the preservation, where this can be undertaken at economic cost, of the State owned fore-shore and local authority owned property and amenities. Preservation works will be undertaken where they support rural development, environmental protection and tourism and other activities which contribute to increasing the economic potential of coastal regions. Before deciding on the projects to be undertaken over the next few years, the Department will be consulting fully with coastal local authorities.

In addition, the Department is working with the Department of the Environment and the Office of Public Works, in consultation with all interested parties, on the development of a comprehensive coastal zone management policy.

Expenditure from the Vote of the Office of Public Works on coast protection in 1989 and from the Vote of the Department of the Marine from 1990 to 1993 was as follows:

Year	Expenditure
	£
1989	90,528
1990	1,049,754
1991	508,657
1992	200,000
1993	200,000

These moneys were in addition to any expenditure by maritime local authorities from their own resources.