Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy makes an important point about cost-benefit analyses. This has been a bugbear of mine in my constituency for a long time. There are parts of certain rural communities, including some in County Wicklow, that will never measure up to a cost-benefit analysis that is based on an urban area. The Deputy poses an interesting challenge, to the system and to the Government, as to how we can have a more nuanced understanding of cost versus benefit, with the need sometimes to have the emphasis as much on the word "benefit" as on the word "cost". It should go without saying that the Government absolutely appreciates how important access, including access roads, is in enabling people able to go about their lives and pursue their livelihood. The Deputy spoke about people trying to get to school, college, work and everywhere else. This is a particular issue for farm families and others in rural areas.

The interdepartmental group I referenced is the best vehicle to take this issue forward. There is a commitment under the action plan for rural Ireland, Our Rural Future, that the group, officially called the interdepartmental group on managing coastal change, will finalise and submit its report, with options and recommendations for managing coastal change, to the Government this year. As the Deputy noted, the issue he raised is not, strictly speaking, about coastal erosion, but it does relate to coastal activity. We will see whether it can find a home within the interdepartmental group's exploration of issues. Another avenue for addressing the matter is the minor works schemes operated by the OPW. Colleagues in the Department who prepared this note have reminded me that this is a useful funding source for local authorities.

I undertake to take this issue back to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, under whose remit lies Our Rural Future, and the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. I will ask them both to keep it in mind in the context of the work of the interdepartmental group and to keep in close contact on the matter with Deputy Ó Cuív.

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