Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which is of huge importance to our Department and the Government as a whole. The Government has established an interdepartmental group on managing coastal change to scope out an approach to the development of a national co-ordinated and integrated strategy to manage the projected impact of coastal change on our coastal communities, economies, heritage, culture, environment and the land. The inter-departmental group is jointly chaired by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the OPW, and will shortly bring forward options and recommendations to the Government for consideration.

The local authorities can carry out coastal protection works using their own resources. If necessary, they may put forward proposals to the relevant Departments for funding of appropriate measures or apply to, in my Department, the OPW under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme.

I am happy to advise the Deputy that, under this scheme, Cork County Council has been approved funding of €68,445 to undertake coastal protection repairs to the existing sea wall at Coastguard Cottages, Roche's Point in east Cork. Cork County Council procured and appointed a consultant and it is envisaged that the project will be constructed and completed in the second quarter of this year.

Two further applications submitted under this scheme by the council are currently under consideration by our Department. One application is to protect the access and cul-de-sac road to six houses near Whitegate, which I saw with the Deputy and Deputy Stanton. The council and the OPW are due to meet imminently to discuss the project with a view to progressing the application.

Cork County Council recently submitted an application for a coastal erosion risk management study. The proposed study area covers approximately 9.5 km of coastline from Youghal to Greenlands strand at Ring. This includes a specific area of concern, that is, access to Pilmore Cottages, Pilmore in Youghal. This study area also forms part of the OPW’s ongoing national pilot coastal monitoring survey programme and the OPW’s survey data will be used for that shortly.

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