Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick for raising this matter and I welcome the opportunity to discuss it in the House. The development of coastal amenities such as walkways does not fall within the remit of the Office of Public Works, OPW, but is a matter for the local authority in the first instance and, in so far as central government responsibility is concerned, would probably be more appropriate to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

I am advised that there is an existing walkway-cycleway from Dundalk to Soldier's Point, but that it has become overgrown and derelict. I also understand a local environmental group has been working on rehabilitating and reinstating the walkway and that it has done excellent work to date. The proposed development of the walkway along this stretch of coast near Dundalk was first examined ten years ago. In order to provide an additional and enhanced amenity, a proposed extension of the walkway-cycleway to the start point of Blackrock was examined by Louth County Council in 2003. This would have involved adapting existing embankments that were created approximately 100 years ago to protect farmland. A preliminary report was produced and discussions took place between the council and the relevant environmental authority on the subject of how the walkway-cycleway could be built in the area, which includes a special area of conservation, SAC, but work was put on hold by the council to await the outcome of the Irish coastal protection strategy study and the subsequent catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, study, which is examining the main causes of flood risk in the general area.

Dundalk and Blackrock are areas for further assessment under the CFRAM study, that is, areas identified as having significant flood risk and that are being examined in more detail. The OPW has appointed engineering consultants RPS to undertake this study and it is well under way. Under the programme, work on drawing up draft flood maps will be finalised in 2014 and flood risk management plans will be developed by the end of 2015.

The flood management plan for the Dundalk and Blackrock area will include a list of prioritised measures to address the flood risk in those areas. It may well be that strengthening of the existing embankments on which the existing walkway is situated may form part of the solution. However, it is far too early to know this and we must wait to see what the CFRAM study recommends. In any event, the recommended measures in the study will concern themselves only with addressing flood risk. They will not address other ancillary issues such as the placement of walkways on embankments for amenity or recreational purposes. As I said earlier, this is not part of the OPW's responsibilities. If Louth County Council wishes to address this possibility, it will be a matter for the council to pursue it with the relevant agencies.

It is important to point out that a key element of the CFRAM programme is public consultation. Public information days on the draft flood maps will take place during 2014. These events will be advertised in local press and regular updates will be available on the website www.cfram.ie. There will be plenty of opportunities, therefore, for the public and particular interest groups to make comments and suggestions or to raise concerns about flooding in the area over the next number of months.

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