Mr. Robert Mooney:

I will answer the Deputy's question. As he knows, the OPW has been engaging with local authorities throughout the country on an ongoing basis to deal with coastal erosion. It is a problem that is increasing and is likely to increase significantly in the coming years. In terms of taking a national approach, an interdepartmental report was done. It requires a national level approach for which the OPW has been assigned a leading technical role that involves assessing risk and identifying options. The intention is to elevate this above individual local authorities having to deal with the issue and to provide funding and a pathway for integrated coastal change management plans into the future. In answer to the Deputy's question, the local approach has been superseded by a national approach but there will still be continued support for local authorities in the intervening period. There is scope for projects of a scale that cannot be dealt with through minor works.