Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the Minister of State.

There is an interesting backdrop to my Commencement matter. As we all know, applying for a foreshore licence is a long, difficult, slow and tedious process. At 6 a.m. on 4 January 2014 the shoreline in the village of Lahinch, County Clare was destroyed. Millions of euro worth of damage was caused and the incident had a significant impact both on the lives of the community and businesses in the village. To be fair, everyone rallied around and a significant job of work was done to restore the village. With the support of Clare County Council, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Office of Public Works and all other stakeholders, together with business people, the streetscape, promenade and general facilities in Lahinch are superior to what existed pre-2014. Obviously, because of the climatic changes we are experiencing, the difficulties and challenges remain. I refer to the effects the Atlantic Ocean could have if a similar incident was to happen.

The Department has spent several million euro, through Clare County Council, in installing coastal protection features along parts of the promenade in Lahinch. Work still has to be done on a significant part of the promenade, but it has been earmarked and funding is available for it. There is one small problem, that is, the granting of a foreshore licence. I have been advised by officials of Clare County Council that the process has been continuing a long time and that if the foreshore licence was granted, that the coastal protection works would be carried out very quickly. When can we expect the foreshore licence to be granted? What is the timeline? What are the issues which are delaying the granting of the licence? When it is granted, it will facilitate the quick completion of the coastal protection works which are very important. I would like to see the works being carried before the 2019 tourism season commences next April or May. Perhaps that is an ambitious target, but I have been advised that once the foreshore licence is granted, the works can commence very quickly.