I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 134 together.
In the context of coastal erosion: The OPW and other Central Government Departments provide support, where possible, to Local Authorities around the country tackling coastal erosion. It is the responsibility of each Local Authority, in the first instance, to assess and address problems of coastal erosion in their own areas. The primary funding mechanism offered through the OPW for this is the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
Under this scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, and the allocation of funding for the Minor Works scheme will be included in the overall allocation for flood risk management investment included under Vote 13 (Office of Public Works) in the Estimates for Public Services for 2020.
The table below outlines allocations and/or drawdowns for coastal/erosion risk management studies, per county, since 2011.
County
|
No. Studies
|
€
|
€
|
Clare
|
5
|
EUR503,568 allocated / drawn down
|
|
Donegal
|
5
|
EUR382,500 allocated
|
EUR76,500 drawn-down (1x study)
|
Fingal
|
1
|
EUR57,800 allocated / drawn down
|
|
Kerry
|
2
|
EUR225,000 allocated
|
Not yet drawn down
|
Louth
|
1
|
EUR81,000 allocated
|
EUR38,883 drawn-down to-date
|
Sligo
|
1
|
EUR57,055 allocated
|
€45,644.00 drawn-down to-date
|
Wexford
|
1
|
EUR28,800 allocated / drawn down
|
|
In the context of climate change: Consideration of the impacts of climate change is integral to the development and design for all flood relief schemes progressed by the OPW and its Local Authority partners.
It is not feasible, therefore, to provide budget-breakdowns of all activities specific to climate-change in the context of individual flood relief schemes under the Capital Flood Relief Programme, or overall expenditure in respect of flood risk management more generally. The OPW has, however, co-funded a number of specific national climate change research projects, as follows:
2016 - ‘Downscaling for Decision Making: Irish Climate Futures’:
OPW contribution: €78,537.20
2019 - ‘Sensitivity of fluvial flood peak flows to a changing climate’ (NUI Maynooth):
OPW contribution: € 157,863.60
2019 - ‘High-Resolution Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean-Wave Regional Climate Projections for Ireland’ (NUI Galway):
OPW contribution: € 43,748.75