Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I am disappointed that the Minister or the Minister of State who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Brian Hayes, is not here to deal with this matter. The recent storms were very serious and the Minister of State has outlined how the bulk of the storm damage is on the west coast. I am here to speak for the east coast because I do not want that part of the country to be forgotten. The damage to the east coast was not as severe as in County Galway or County Clare but damage was suffered in Dublin and around Portrane in my area in particular.

The funding for emergency restoration work is €45 million. Applications can be made for up to 90% of the cost to a total of €500,000 with the local authority making up the other 10%. Those applications must be submitted by 21 February 2014. We must impress on local authorities the importance of making those applications. The OPW has produced a restrictive list of allowable repairs such as repairs to build flood defences and coastal protection structures which have been damaged by the recent storms. This means repairing existing structures. The borough of Portrane on the east coast has suffered massive coastal erosion over the past year but in particular as a result of the recent storms. We have been asking for assistance for well over a year and some would say for nearly 20 years. The borough area of Portrane is close to being breached.

I have written to the Department on the matter, as have colleagues in the other House. It seems to me that the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme that Mr. Gary Grant issued on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, would not allow Fingal to make an application because there are no defences at the location.

I am glad the Minister of State referred to the EU Solidarity Fund. Obviously his Department, or whichever Department, that supplied his notes are not hopeful of securing funding from the EU. Areas throughout the country have been designated EU special protection areas or special areas of conservation, such as the borough of Portrane. That means certain coastal protections cannot be deployed which means there will be nothing left of the area and its dunes. The same applies to Portmarnock.

Has the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, or the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, met the Commissioner for Regional Development, Mr. Johannes Hahn? A Fianna Fáil delegation met him last Tuesday to discuss the matter. We need to work this topic through a bit. I am sure that the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, will use his departmental contacts to improve things. It is important we examine the matter with a large degree of urgency because some of the matters I have raised were raised over a year ago. A high tide is due on 1 February and I hope it will not be accompanied by prevailing winds and heavy rainfall because boundaries have been breached, as Senator Conway mentioned in respect of Clare and others mentioned in respect of areas in Galway. An exceptional amount of damage has been done and we deserve and need funding to carry out remediation work and to fix the infrastructure.

Roads have been breached in north Dublin, particularly in the areas I have mentioned. People are worried about their properties. There are areas throughout the country that are down to between 1 m and 2 m before the properties and dwellings are breached. I want to see a greater degree of urgency in dealing with the matter. I know this is not a simple matter and there is no magic wand to fix the problem overnight. We need more investment. Even though between €40 million and €45 million has been set aside by the Government, it is not going to be sufficient. We need a plan to identify areas that are at risk, such as the ones that I have mentioned, and to identify the areas that will be at risk into the future.

I have read a recent report issued by the RPS consultants. There is a trend among some environmental services to allow the sea do what it will and not build coastal protections. Obviously I do not want to see that happen. The closing date for applications is 21 February. The OPW already funds coastal protection every year through a 90% grant of up to €500,000. Is the fund separate? Is the grant available this year? Is it in addition to the minor flood mitigation work and coastal protection scheme? A bundle of money is available. Has the OPW still got money for the regular works that can be applied for in any given year?

I ask the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to consider specifically the important area of Portrane on the east coast. I do not want them to forget that the east coast was badly affected by the recent storms and also Clontarf, located in the city of Dublin. I am sure other Senators will speak for the west coast. I do not want the east coast to be forgotten because it was not mentioned in the speech made earlier by the Minister of State, Deputy Costello.