Coastal Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2015

Tuesday, 10 March 2015

Ceisteanna (227)

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

227. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will instigate a technical assessment of the blowout in sand dunes at Banna Strand and Carrahane Strand in County Kerry with a view to preventing the environmental disaster which would result in a breach of the dunes at a point where only 10 m of dune remain, threatening the homes and farmland behind it with flooding by seawater; and if he will arrange for the filling of the dunes to prevent this. [10111/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Local flooding and coastal issues are a matter for Local Authorities to investigate and address in the first instance and it is open to Kerry County Council (KCC) to carry out flood mitigation and coastal protection works using its own resources.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. It is not available for repair of damaged infrastructure or for maintenance of existing flood defence or coastal protection assets. A Local Authority may apply to the OPW for support under the scheme having regard to those eligibility criteria. Application forms are available on OPW's website under Flood Risk Management and decisions are made having regard to the overall availability of funding for flood risk management.