Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the application for coastal protection works on the Murrough in County Wicklow was successful. [22873/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The beach at The Murrough, Co. Wicklow is owned by Wicklow County Council and it should be noted that responsibility for its repair and upkeep rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. My Department does, however, provide funding to various Local Authorities each year under the Coastal Protection Programme subject to Exchequer allocation and overall national priorities. Funding of €3.037 million was made available for Coastal Protection projects in 2008.

An application was received from Wicklow County Council which included applications for funding at four locations, including the above location. The application for the above project was for funding of €2.25 million from my Department to cover the cost of two offshore breakwaters. It should be noted this project was listed as the fourth priority of Wicklow County Council.

The National Coastal Protection Programme was announced on 30th April 2008 and consisted of priority applications made by all coastal Local Authorities. Unfortunately, following careful consideration based on Exchequer funding and overall national priorities the application for the above location was unsuccessful on this occasion.