Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if there is funding available to alleviate coastal erosion at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; the meetings he and his immediate predecessor held with local residents to discuss this matter; if it is the case that funding was promised by his predecessor to deal with this problem; if so, the reason this funding has not been made available; if he would have the matter investigated immediately with a view to addressing the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15622/04]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for coast protection rests with the property owner whether it be a local authority or a private individual. In July 2002 my Department requested all coastal local authorities to submit proposals, in order of priority, for consideration in the context of the 2003-2006 national coast protection programmes. Kerry County Council submitted a proposal for coast protection works at Maharees estimated at €550,000 and was number six in order of priority. There was no Exchequer funding for this project in 2003. My Department has Exchequer funding of €780,000 million for coast protection for the entire country in 2004.

It is not possible to fund this project in 2004. The question of funding the proposal in the post 2004 period will be considered in the context of the Exchequer allocation for coast protection works going forward and overall national priorities. There is no record in my Department of funding allocated for the Maharabeg Cut, Maharees, and Castlegregory. Records show that local community representatives were requested to draw up a plan of the requirements for the area. No such plans were received in the Department.