Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ó Clochartaigh for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to update the Seanad on the subject of coastal erosion. I echo his comments on the courageous work carried out by local authority workers right around the country, including in Galway, during the very difficult storms and floods we experienced a number of years ago.

Coastal erosion is a natural and ongoing process which takes place right around the entire coastline of Ireland. Coastal erosion may threaten human life, land or infrastructure such as roads. However, it must be recognised that coastal erosion also has beneficial effects such as providing natural nourishment and supply of sediment to adjacent beaches. Due to the considerable extent and nature of the Irish coastline impacted by erosion and the fact that it is an ongoing natural process it would be uneconomical and impractical for the State to protect all of this coastline. In the first instance, it is a matter for the local authorities to identify and prioritise areas of their respective coastlines considered to be under significant threat from erosion. Any approach toward addressing problems of coastal erosion must be informed by an assessment of the risks involved. In some cases a "do nothing" or "no active intervention" approach might well be the most appropriate management response and international studies have borne this out. Some previous interventions to solve local erosion problems have exacerbated coastal erosion at other locations or have generated other environmental problems.

The OPW requires that proposals and funding applications for structural measures to prevent or mitigate coastal erosion should be done in conjunction with an appropriate coastal erosion risk management study which fully investigates, substantiates and demonstrates the merits of any measures being proposed. Before we spend taxpayers' money on fixing a problem we need to check it is the right solution and does not have any accidental consequences. Such measures usually require the investment of substantial amounts of public funds. In order to ensure value for money, it is considered best practice to carry out a study in advance of undertaking any measures. A study should include technical, economic, social and environmental criteria and should ensure that due consideration is given to the full range of management options. The Irish coastal protection strategy study, ICPSS, has surveyed and assessed the coastal erosion risk along the entire national coastline. This study is available on the OPW website, where the exact risk to various parts of the coastline is shown. The information is available to all local authorities to enable them to develop appropriate plans and strategies for the sustainable management of the coastline in their counties including the identification, prioritisation and, subject to the availability of resources, the implementation of coastal protection works both of a structural and non-structural nature as appropriate.

I am informed that Galway County Council has carried out some works reinforcing bridges on Tawin Island. Galway County Council was allocated funding of €441,990 for works on the south shore of Inishbofin and €90,000 for a study on Inishbofin as a whole in 2015, under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme. Under this scheme applications are considered for measures costing not more than €500,000 in each instance. Studies are also funded under this scheme so it is a direct way for the local authority to apply for minor flood mitigation and coastal protection scheme funding, up to €500,000, if there is an area they need to examine to see if action can be taken. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for eligible projects from my office, subject to criteria, and any application which the council may make under the scheme will be considered by the OPW in accordance with the scheme's eligibility criteria. No application for funding for works on Tawin Island was submitted by Galway County Council under this scheme but the option remains open to it. The OPW has not received any application for funding under this scheme from Mayo County Council for 2015.

Following the storms of December and January of 2013-14, the Government made funding available for the repair of specific public infrastructure and facilities damaged by the severe weather events. The amount allocated to Mayo County Council by the Government for coastal repair and reinstatement works was €4,205,000. Galway County Council was allocated €1,144,800. Tawin Island was not included on the programme of works for coastal storm damage repair submitted by Galway County Council. In recent weeks, however, I have been able to make an additional funding allocation in recognition of storms that occurred in February 2014 and under this funding allocation I provided a further €6,000 to Mayo County Council. Based on the very substantial works identified previously by Galway County Council, it will be allocated a further €498,000. I have given local authorities discretion in how they use the funding so they must pick the coastal repair or flood repair projects they think most appropriate. It may be open to Galway County Council to consider Tawin Island under that, and it may submit an application to my office under the minor works scheme.