Coastal Protection.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2004

Wednesday, 2 June 2004

Ceisteanna (6)

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

6 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department is making financial provision for the measures needed to counteract some of the damaging effects of climate change in view of the fact that Dublin City Council alone estimates a need for €150 million for coastal defence work and that the Chartered Insurance Institute world-wide says that with present trends, losses due to climate change will outstrip global GDP in 60 years. [16809/04]

Freagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)

Mr. Cullen

The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, is responsible for ensuring that Ireland's coastal zone is used in a sustainable way to the best advantage of the Irish people from an economic, aquacultural, leisure, social and environmental perspective. In this regard, he requested in July 2002 all coastal local authorities to submit proposals for coastal protection works for the period 2003-06.

From my perspective, the EPA published comprehensive research undertaken at NUI Maynooth in 2003 entitled, Climate Change: Scenarios and Impacts for Ireland. This identifies, inter alia, the possible implications of a sea level rise for Ireland and the impacts this may have. Major cities such as Dublin were seen to be most vulnerable from an economic perspective. The research specific to Ireland, and international policy analysis of the impacts of climate change through the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, will help inform long-term planning in coastal zone management and other policy areas to allow the expected impacts of climate change to be integrated into policy formulation and the costs of adaptation to be best managed.

The prime global response to climate adaptation requirements is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to levels that would prevent dangerous human induced interference with global climate systems. The Kyoto Protocol is consequently important as a first step towards the necessary global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 60 to 70% by the end of this century, as identified by the IPCC. Achievement of these reductions will delay and reduce the damages caused by climate change and the need for adaptation and, will ensure that the global costs of adaptation will be lower than those identified in the report referred to.

The IPCC third assessment report, the authoritative scientific perspective on climate change mitigation and adaptation, was not able to determine comprehensive quantitative estimates of the benefits of stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations at various levels but is satisfied that stabilisation at lower concentrations will generate greater benefits in terms of less damage. It is also clear that the impacts of climate change will be greatest in those parts of the world least able to afford the cost of adaptation in the required time frames.

Accordingly, my priority has been to support international efforts for ambitious targets for emissions and to meet these targets nationally.

Mr. Sargent

I do not propose to ask a question relating to the Kyoto Protocol because we are dealing with the extent to which climate change is already having an impact. The Minister is dealing only with the matter from an economic point of view given he stated Dublin was vulnerable for economic reasons. Given the costs associated with the floods two years ago of €10 million on clean-up and €2 million on damages, will the Minister act on European Commission research in terms of Ireland's likelihood to experience not just increased rainfall but, increased heavy rainfall and, likewise research from the Institution of Civil Engineers to which he may also have been referring in his reply given NUI was involved in the research which predicted a half metre rise in mean sea level in the next century?

Is the Minister taking on board that advice which stresses the need for not just coastal local authorities but river-basin local authorities to erect considerable defence walls? It has been mentioned that Dublin would require a three metre defence wall. Will such projects be included in his Department's Estimates? In planning terms, will he take on board the retreat of clay cliffs in Killiney and the dunes at Portrane not alone in terms of existing flood plains but in terms of predictions of likely increases in flood damage in areas currently not affected from a planning point of view? To what extent is the Minister taking on board what is already happening regardless of our success or otherwise in enforcing the Kyoto protocol, which is another day's work. I believe the Minister appreciates that we must deal with what is happening now. Will such projects be included in his Department's Estimates?

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, referred in his reply to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern. To what extent can local authorities depend on the Government for assistance in terms of providing necessary defences against rain and flooding in particular?

Mr. Cullen

The Deputy will agree this is a complex area. Much of the impact referred to will not take place until the end of the current century from approximately 2075 to 2100. Plans are being put in place to deal with this issue. I am aware from time at OPW that climate change capacity was built into the various schemes designed to deal with the floods. Even though we had not reached existing impacts, significant allowance was made not alone for the worst case scenario that had ever occurred but for potential scenarios taking account of models in different parts of the world. Climate change has been directly catered for in the flooding schemes initiated in recent years.

This is a much more complex issue with which to deal in terms of coastal areas. There is a threat to Ireland and many other countries in terms of how one mitigates this problem. Clearly, one can put in place various elements of coastal protection but, we could spend all the money in the world on this issue and still not resolve it. One has to deal with this matter in a targeted way. My Department is working with the local authorities in that regard.

The Deputy may be aware that my Department is currently rolling out the river basin management systems, some of which have already been completed. The systems will not alone manage the river basin but the entirety of issues in terms of what is happening to the water within those areas. This measure was seen by the EU as the way forward. Ireland is leading the way and, in that regard many schemes are already well advanced in different parts of the country. These schemes will throw up potential solutions to dealing with such problems. However, it will take a combination of Departments and local authorities to come up with agreed solutions to the problems. The question of finding the necessary resources arises, but resources are being made available to deal specifically with flooding issues and the erection of barriers to combat flooding. That is a wise decision.

Deputies may recall the major flooding incident some years ago whereby a new motorway was flooded while old roads were not. The NRA should have taken into account potential water levels and its ability to deal with them in extreme scenarios. With road levels, in terms of the topography of an area in which road is being built, such issues should also be taken into account. We have asked the NRA to ensure that is done in future. There is no excuse for the failure of the development, planning and construction sectors to take into account existing impacts and potential future impacts. That is the best way of getting value for money in terms of dealing with these issues.

Mr. Sargent

This is an important issue. Will the Minister say if his Department is currently engaged in discussions with some of the insurance companies which are threatening, and in some cases have already carried out such threats, to withhold insurance cover on the basis of risk of flooding? Are attenuation tanks in new developments viewed as a critical factor in providing house insurance? Will the Department assist householders in existing and new developments in obtaining insurance cover? He will be aware that there are threats hanging over properties because of insurance companies withholding or threatening to withhold cover.

Given the prediction of the Chartered Insurance Institute, is the Government liaising with insurance companies to ensure ongoing cover is available and that conditions are taken into account to ensure they are satisfied they will not have to withstand costs that will bring them down as companies? This is obviously what they are afraid of.

Mr. Cullen

This issue largely concerns the Office of Public Works, which is the responsibility of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance. When I had this responsibility, I instigated an all-Ireland mapping and modelling process to identify potential dangers for local authorities and developments to ensure we would not build in areas that would obviously be prone to flooding, either now or in the future. That is important. It is equally important that people are able to insure their properties. There were instances in countries where there has been flooding in which people could not get insurance and had to seek alternative methods.

I do not have information on the question on my Department's engagement to date, but if the Deputy tables a parliamentary question, I will certainly obtain it for him. Generally, the OPW, as the operational arm of the State, is more fundamentally engaged in this area on behalf of the State. It is doing a very good job.