Coastal Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Ceisteanna (306)

Joe O'Brien

Ceist:

306. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 9 September 2020, the membership of the interdepartmental group on managing coastal change; when it met first; the regularity with which it proposes to meet; when it expects to have a strategy published; and if the group will consider the way in which to offer families alternative homes or compensatory measures if their homes become uninhabitable in the near future. [24056/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Patrick O'Donovan)

The National Coastal Change Management Strategy Steering Group is jointly chaired by the Department of Housing, Planning, Local Government and Heritage and the Office of Public Works. The Group also includes the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Met Éireann and the County and City Management Association. The Group met for the first time on the 3rd of September 2020 and will meet on a monthly basis to scope out an approach for the development of an integrated, whole of Government coastal change management strategy.  The Group is due to report to Government within six months with its initial findings and recommendations, including future structures and roles of Government Departments to deal with coastal change.