Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 8

Written Answers. - Donegal Coastline Erosion.

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

267 Mr. P. Gallagher (Donegal South West) asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the serious erosion problem at various locations along the Donegal coastline; the plans, if any, he has to alleviate, combat and rectify the deteriorating problems in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5448/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

To date no grant aid has been provided to Donegal County Council under the Coastal Protection Sub-Programme of the Environmental Services Operational Programme 1994-99. The funding available is limited to £5.1 million over the life of the programme. Demand levels in respect of priority projects identified, on the other hand, exceed £25 million. In these circumstances the coastal local authorities have been advised that it will not be possible to aid all of the priority proposals submitted.

As I said, Donegal County Council's proposals have not been grant-aided to date but the process of addressing priority works is ongoing. All locations identified by the local authorities, including Donegal County Council, will be considered over the period of the operational programme. The fact that no works have been aided so far in County Donegal does not mean that works will not be aided between now and 1999.