Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 5

Written Answers. - Coastal Protection Works.

Dermot Ahern

Ceist:

258 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Marine the amount of State expenditure on coastal erosion in each of the years from 1990 to 1995 by his Department, or by any other State agency during that period; the areas where this expenditure was incurred in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4871/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

Over the period 1990 through 1995, the Department of the Marine has invested some £2.6 million in undertaking coastal protection works at various locations around the coast (locations outlined in the following table). An additional £349,000 was spent on maintaining a number of protection schemes built by the Office of Public Works under the Coastal Protection Act, 1963.

I am not in a position to indicate the level of expenditure by other Government bodies, State agencies or local authorities over the period. Property owners, including the above bodies and private individuals, have the primary responsibility for coastal protection and indeed a vested interest in protecting their own properties. In view of this, these property owners often undertake their own protection works, usually following the issuing of a foreshore licence. The level of investment in such works is generally not known to the Department of the Marine.

Coast Protection Capital Expenditure 1990-1995.

1990	£
Arklow, County Wicklow	915,000
Rosslare, County Wexford	40,000
Bray, County Wicklow	5,000

An additional £89,000 was spent on maintenance of protection works undertaken by the Office of Public Works under the Coastal Protection Act, 1963.

1991	£
Rosslare, County Wexford	109,000
Bray, County Wicklow	65,000
Strandhill, County Sligo	50,000
Maharees, County Kerry	160,000
Arkow, County Wicklow	105,000

An additional £67,000 was spent on maintenance of protection works undertaken by the Office of Public Works under the Coastal Protection Act, 1963.

1992	£
Rosslare, County Wexford	100,000
Murrough, Wicklow, County Wicklow	17,000
Maharees, County Kerry	34,000

An additional £49,000 was spent on maintenance of protection works undertaken by the Office of Public Works under the Coastal Protection Act, 1963.

Dermot Ahern

Ceist:

259 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Marine the current position regarding the proposal by Louth County Council in connection with coastal erosion on the County Louth coastline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4872/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

Under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services 1994-1999 some £5.1 million is being made available to help address the serious erosion problem around our coast. In order to identify projects for possible funding under the Operational Programme, all coastal local authorities were invited to submit details of their top four priority proposals. A number of projects identified by the local authorities have been aided by the Department during the past year.

To date, no works in County Louth have been grant-aided, which is also the position in many other counties. I am sure the Deputy will fully understand that the funding available in any one year is very limited and as a result it is only possible to undertake a small number of works in any particular year. Louth County Council's proposals will be considered along with all other priority proposals received, over the remaining years of the Operational Programme.