Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has overall responsibility for Government policy on coastal strategy and local authorities on identifying works to protect the coast in their respective areas. My office, through the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme, provides a funding mechanism to support works to protect coastal communities, particularly those at risk from flooding. The management of problems of coastal protection in the area indicated by the Deputy is primarily a localised matter and, as such, it is for Mayo County Council to identify an appropriate, sustainable and viable solution to the problems in Belmullet.

A full report has been requested from Mayo County Council where high spring tides combined with a storm surge and waves associated with Storm Callum resulted in some flooding and the temporary closure of roads in Belmullet over the past week. Mayo County Council provided sandbags which served to provide protection from the extreme event. Following storms early in 2014 the then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government contacted all affected local authorities regarding the cost of repairs to damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure in the county. The amount made available to Mayo County Council for coastal protection repair works was €4.2 million. I am advised that the council has undertaken repairs of walls at a number of locations in Belmullet, County Mayo, at a cost of €180,000. It is important to note that funding was allocated to immediately assist local authorities for these repair and restoration works to existing coastal protection and flood defence systems and not for new infrastructural projects. It remains open to Mayo County Council to apply for funding in connection with this location and it is a matter for the council to prioritise works in its administrative area.

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