Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The primary objective of Government policy on coastal protection is to ensure that in areas identified as being at greatest risk of damage or loss to economic assets through coastal erosion or flooding, appropriate and sustainable measures are identified by local authorities to protect those assets. Where intervention measures are economically justified on cost-benefit grounds and compatible with all required environmental and other statutory requirements, they are implemented subject to the availability of resources. It is not practical to provide protection to the entire coastline. The Irish Coastal Protection Strategy Study, ICPSS, is a major examination to assess and identify the most significant areas of erosion risk for the entire national coastline. These programmes assist with the identification of areas potentially at risk from coastal flooding nationally.

The OPW, in conjunction with its consultants, has prepared and published strategic coastal flood hazard maps. These maps have been prepared for the current and two future scenarios, mid-range and high-end, associated with sea level rise in the context of climate change. The mid-range future scenario represents the flood hazard based on a 0.5m sea level rise at 2100, whilst the high-end future scenario represents a 1.0m sea level rise. This major study provides invaluable and essential information required to inform coastal protection policy.

I am conscious of time, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, so I will give the Deputy a chance to ask a question.

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