Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if a local authority has sanctioned its 25% contribution to a project (details supplied) in County Cork; and when works will commence. [30898/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, 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. This year under the Department's coastal protection programme, I allocated funding of €187,500 towards village protection works at Gyleen costing a total of €250,000. Cork County Council has agreed to contribute 25% of the cost of the project. I understand from Cork County Council that the contractor for the project has been appointed and works are due to commence shortly.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to predict the effect of tidal surges in the Irish sea on low lying areas of Dublin by way of risk modelling; if so, the risk levels that will be used in such modelling; if he proposes to introduce land use restrictions based on such risk studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30899/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2002 the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources initiated a national coastal protection strategy study to review coastal protection generally, examine policy options and set out a basis for effective decision making in regard to resource allocation. This study is currently in progress. Attention is at present being focused on detailed studies in a pilot area of coast stretching from Killiney, County Dublin to Carnsore Point, County Wexford.

In the pilot area information is being assembled on the current and historic position of the coastline, the nature of the coast, its vulnerability to erosion and flooding and the nature of the hinterland in terms of economic, heritage and environmental assets. The information is being collated on a geographic information system, GIS.

Areas at risk of tidal flooding in the pilot area are being delineated at two levels of probability. An extreme flood outline, EFO, is being determined for the combined storm surge and high tide event with a 0.1% annual excellence probability. Converted into a band on a digital terrain model, this will define the outer limit for damage estimates and planning guidance. High tide, surge and wave inundation levels with an annual excellence probability of 0.5% are being determined which will show on the GIS the indicative flood plain.

Very limited data are available on storm surges around the coast of Ireland so it is necessary to develop a hydrodynamic tidal model to simulate tides and surges from historical meteorological data. Storm surge modelling is ongoing. All events identified as extreme storm surges between 1956 and 2002 have been simulated and water levels have been extracted at locations in the Irish Sea along the pilot area coastline.

It is intended that following completion of the pilot study the surge modelling and identification of areas at risk will be extended to the entire coastline of Ireland including Dublin. Land use restrictions, if any, resulting from these studies are a matter for the relevant planning authority. This Department will advise the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government on impacts and sensitivity of erosion and flood risk in relation to planning and development, including the provision of assistance as required in the development of guidelines and standards.

In 2003 this Department provided funding to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council towards the cost of the Dublin coastal flooding protection project. This project which was initiated following the tidal flooding which occurred in Dublin in February 2002 is aimed primarily at addressing the risks from tidal flooding around the Dublin coastline and within the tidal reaches of a number of rivers and canals. A copy of the final report of these studies was received in this Department in April 2005 and is currently being reviewed.