David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for this opportunity. I also thank the staff of the House and the Minister of State for staying late to hear what I have to say.

I do not know whether the Minister of State has been in the town of Cobh. If not, I invite him to visit. The town is built on a series of hills and, consequently, is susceptible to landslides. In the past 25 years, the town council has raised with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the potential danger to human life caused by landslides. To be fair, the Department has provided funding to Cobh Town Council to repair damage caused by landslides and to carry out works to stabilise slopes. While these substantial and recent works were funded 100% by the Department, a number of areas continue to give rise to concern.

In 2005, JODA Engineering Consultants prepared a report outlining some of the areas where it was believed that further work was necessary. The report has been forwarded to the Department's officials. The town council understands that the opinion of the Department is that a full review of the landslide programme must be carried out before further funding can be sanctioned by the Department of Finance. While the council has no difficulties with a review of that nature, serious concerns have been expressed that it may give rise to a delay in dealing with the issues raised in the JODA report. The report identifies a number of locations where work is urgently needed, including Harbour Terrace, Harbour Road, Connolly Street and a number of smaller projects. Many of the necessary works have been costed and requests for sanction to carry them out have been submitted to the Department.

Since the report's completion, two further areas have experienced landslides. On 18 November, a serious landslide occurred on West View, resulting in the closure of the public road. JODA has reported to the council regarding the danger of further landslides with the potential to affect the safety of persons and property, including a number of houses. The council has also been advised of a rockfall on the grounds of Belview national school, giving rise to concerns about the safety of the children attending the school. It should be noted that neither West View nor Belview was prioritised by JODA in its report.

On foot of representations by concerned residents, members of Cobh Town Council have consistently raised this issue at council meetings. Councillor Paddy Whitty rang me this morning as I made my way here. Councillors are aware that a landslide in 1980 resulted in the tragic death of a child and are concerned that a similar occurrence is possible.

I do not know what is in the Minister of State's prepared script, but I ask that he take the matter seriously and ask the Department's officials to examine the case of Cobh. Having heard what I have said, he would agree that the matter needs urgent attention before a serious landslide resulting in injury or death occurs. We want to avoid such a situation if possible. Owing to the recent heavy rains, the issue is even more urgent because they can lead to further landslides, as the Minister of State knows. We have experienced tragedies in the past and I ask the Minister of State to use his good offices to prioritise this issue.

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this matter. I am standing in for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche.

The urban area of Cobh is unique in terms of its geological and structural problems. The geology of the area is limestone shale, which has become unstable in certain areas following excavation and weathering. This instability has been exacerbated by the manner in which Cobh developed, particularly in the 19th century. As a result of the construction of the naval dockyard and supply port at Haulbowline, the population of the town grew from a few hundred at the beginning of the 1800s to 7,000 by 1837. Demand for accommodation meant that hillsides were excavated to create building space and access roads. This activity resulted in steep slope faces and rock faces of up to 90 degrees behind houses. The excavated stone was used to construct the houses, roads and retaining walls. Those retaining walls were generally substandard.

Following a fatality caused by a landslide in 1980, the Department has given considerable financial assistance towards remedial works undertaken by Cobh Town Council to strengthen areas susceptible to landslides. The assistance takes the form of 100% grants subject to prior approval of the remedial works by the Department. Since 1980, grants of more than €4 million have been paid to Cobh Town Council.

I assure the Deputy that while the Minister shares his concern about the situation in Cobh, he must also be satisfied that works to be undertaken from public funds are cost effective and properly prioritised. The existing Department of Finance sanction allows the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to recoup expenditure to a limit of €4,285,366.

As there has been an ongoing programme of works during almost a quarter of a century, periodic review is important. It is now desirable to quantify the number of projects left to be completed, the estimated completion date and the potential final cost. Cork County Council will take the lead in this review. I understand that a draft brief for the engagement of a specialist adviser in connection with the review has been endorsed by the Department subject to some adjustments. Cork County Council has also been advised that if it is of the opinion that immediate remedial works are essential in the interest of public safety, the Department is prepared to consider a proposal from it.

Cork County Council is free to commit its own resources to meet such works as it considers necessary. In this regard, the Minister has announced increased local government fund allocations of almost €948 million in general purpose grants to all local authorities, including Cork County Council and Cobh Town Council. Next year, Cork County Council will receive €54.8 million from the fund, an increase of more than6%, while Cobh Town Council will receive more than €1.3 million, up almost 8% on its 2006 allocation.