Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the sum spent on coastal erosion in the past five years for each local authority area; the sum allocated in the same year; and the sum sought by the local authorities. [14061/07]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Details of amounts spent for each of the years from 2002 to 2006 for coastal protection in each Local Authority area under the Department's Coastal Protection Programme is set out in the following table.

The information sought in relation to the amounts allocated for the past five years under the Department's Coastal Protection Programme is set out in the following table:

Information on the sum sought by the Local Authorities is not available in the format requested. In July 2002 the Department requested all coastal Local Authorities to submit proposals, in order or priority, for coast protection works for the period 2003 to 2006. In all 195 proposals with an estimated cost of over €120 million were submitted.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the proposals brought to Government in relation to replacement or amendment to the Foreshore Act 1933. [14063/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Government's action programme for the Millennium 1999 Commitment in relation to legislation for a comprehensive integrated management of the coastal zone remains Government policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14056/07]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 297 together.

The Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007 indicates that procedures will be developed for enhanced coordination and cooperation between public bodies on management of the coastal zone. This is in response to the increasing demands and pressures on coastal areas and their resources, and the fact that a wide range of public bodies and agencies have roles to play in managing and regulating various aspects and dimensions of the coastal zone.

The need for action in this area has been recognised at EU level also, with the adoption in 2002 of a Recommendation on Integrated Coastal Zone Management. This asks Member States to undertake a stocktaking of the laws, institutions, agencies/bodies etc that impact on coastal areas, and, based on the results of the stocktaking to develop a strategy or strategies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management. The stock take for Ireland has been largely completed and will be published in due course. This stock take will allow work to commence on the regulatory framework to support an integrated approach to coastal zone management.

A consolidation and streamlining of the Foreshore Acts is also proposed. This will modernise these regulatory processes and procedures and provide a modern and effective legal framework for the management of the State's foreshore estate in the future. It will also allow for the provision of any necessary legislative underpinning of more integrated approaches to management of coastal areas. Preparation of these proposals will take account, among other things, of the principles in the EU Recommendation, the outcome of the EU Maritime Green paper and the EU Marine Strategy Directive.

In addition, the Department will shortly commission a consultancy on the future development of coastal zone management in Ireland which will assist in a major strategic review of the legislative framework, structures, and procedures in place to manage the State-owned foreshore.