Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this matter. I am standing in for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche.

The urban area of Cobh is unique in terms of its geological and structural problems. The geology of the area is limestone shale, which has become unstable in certain areas following excavation and weathering. This instability has been exacerbated by the manner in which Cobh developed, particularly in the 19th century. As a result of the construction of the naval dockyard and supply port at Haulbowline, the population of the town grew from a few hundred at the beginning of the 1800s to 7,000 by 1837. Demand for accommodation meant that hillsides were excavated to create building space and access roads. This activity resulted in steep slope faces and rock faces of up to 90 degrees behind houses. The excavated stone was used to construct the houses, roads and retaining walls. Those retaining walls were generally substandard.

Following a fatality caused by a landslide in 1980, the Department has given considerable financial assistance towards remedial works undertaken by Cobh Town Council to strengthen areas susceptible to landslides. The assistance takes the form of 100% grants subject to prior approval of the remedial works by the Department. Since 1980, grants of more than €4 million have been paid to Cobh Town Council.

I assure the Deputy that while the Minister shares his concern about the situation in Cobh, he must also be satisfied that works to be undertaken from public funds are cost effective and properly prioritised. The existing Department of Finance sanction allows the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to recoup expenditure to a limit of €4,285,366.

As there has been an ongoing programme of works during almost a quarter of a century, periodic review is important. It is now desirable to quantify the number of projects left to be completed, the estimated completion date and the potential final cost. Cork County Council will take the lead in this review. I understand that a draft brief for the engagement of a specialist adviser in connection with the review has been endorsed by the Department subject to some adjustments. Cork County Council has also been advised that if it is of the opinion that immediate remedial works are essential in the interest of public safety, the Department is prepared to consider a proposal from it.

Cork County Council is free to commit its own resources to meet such works as it considers necessary. In this regard, the Minister has announced increased local government fund allocations of almost €948 million in general purpose grants to all local authorities, including Cork County Council and Cobh Town Council. Next year, Cork County Council will receive €54.8 million from the fund, an increase of more than6%, while Cobh Town Council will receive more than €1.3 million, up almost 8% on its 2006 allocation.

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