Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I hear what Senator Reilly is saying. The national protection strategy is in place. When I met the residents in Portrane I said to them that the local authority is best placed to make an application. If the local authority needs assistance from the Office of Public Works in dealing with that application or the issues that may arise, then, by all means, my office is available to assist it. On 22 February representatives from Fingal County Council were to meet local residents and local authority members to discuss the options available or to set up what might be an implementation committee.

Our door is open. When I came into office, I wrote to all the chief executives in the local authorities to invite them to make applications for minor works schemes. We have money and we want to be able to spend it on works that we can get done as quickly as possible, as in the case of this particular issue. I have seen the damage to the walkway and the debris strewn around the beach. It is not the way things should be left. The Office of Public Works will work closely with the Fingal County Council in that regard.