Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

I am not 100% sure my answer will give the Senator the comfort he is looking for, but I am glad he raised the matter, because coastal erosion along the whole west coast, including the south-west and north-west coasts, is a big issue. It is coming down the road like a train and we will have to invest more and more in it to protect communities. I hope that the fact gabion baskets are already in place and there is some form of coastal protection will make it more straightforward from foreshore and statutory requirement points of view. I will go through the response from the Department, which might clarify who is responsible for what.

Coastal erosion and localised flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address. Local authorities can undertake these works within their own resources. In 2009, the Office of Public Works introduced the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide 90% funding to local authorities to undertake studies, coastal erosion or minor flood mitigation works in their administrative areas. The minor works scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short timeframe and the costs do not exceed €750,000. From the way Senator Boyle described this, I doubt they would exceed that amount, but we will leave that to the experts.

Applications under the scheme are assessed by the OPW, having regard to the specific economic, technical, social and environmental criteria set for this scheme. To be approved for funding under this scheme, the benefits from the works must exceed their associated costs. To date nationally, the OPW has approved over €70 million for more than 900 unique local flood relief and coastal projects that are providing benefits to some 8,000 properties. Since 2009, the OPW has approved some €2.4 million in funding for Donegal County Council for some 45 projects. As part of this, €112,500 has been approved for coastal erosion works in Inver, through four separate applications by Donegal County Council.

Under the minor works scheme, it is the responsibility of the local authority to advance the works once they have been approved by the OPW. This includes all environmental assessments, planning consents, health and safety requirements and landowner agreements. The most recent funding approval of €45,000 for Inver, which the Senator mentioned, was announced in April this year by my colleague, Deputy Moran, who is the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. This funding was for Donegal County Council to construct a row of rock armour along a line of existing gabion baskets to provide protection from further damage. I understand the council is continuing to engage with landowners to be in a position to commence these works. While the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, has recently announced revisions to this minor works scheme, these revisions do not change the approvals of funding for Donegal County Council for previously approved works at Inver. I understand he will be setting out the details of the revisions to this scheme over the coming weeks.

The Government recognises the risks associated with climate change and that increases in sea levels and storm damage will result in increased frequency of coastal erosion.In response to these challenges, the recommendations outlined in the report of the interdepartmental group on national coastal change management strategy are being implemented.

The allocation has been made from the OPW. From the response I have just read out, it seems it is now down to the local authority to proceed with putting in the rock armour to protect those gabion baskets that are already there. That is quite clear in the response. I am not sure whether there is a further role for the OPW in this. Perhaps there is and I would have no problem going to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, and asking him to engage with Donegal County Council to ask about where matters stand and the reason for the hold-up. The response mentioned engagement with landowners. I would assume all landowners in that area would very much welcome this development. There is an onus on Donegal County Council to ramp up the speed at which it delivers this, since the funding is there.