John Gormley
Ceist:32 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the degree of coastal erosion of the Irish coastline predicted to occur within the next ten years. [7805/98]
Written Answers. - Coastal Erosion.
A "needs" study of the Irish coast carried out in 1992 by the National Coastal Erosion Committee of the County and City Engineers' Association estimated that, out of the 5,800 kilometres of coastline within the State, some 1,500 kilometres are at risk from erosion. Research cited in the report on coastal zone management policy prepared for my Department and the Departments of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and Environment and Local Government by Brady Shipman Martin estimates that coastal erosion causes a loss of land area of between 160 and 300 hectares a year.
My Department will, as part of its work on the development and articulation of coastal zone management policy, formulate an overall national strategy for coast protection. This will include the identification of protection priorities and the optimum means of responding to them.