Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will acknowledge County Kerry's vast coastline and the major problem the county is facing with coastal erosion by significantly increasing funding to the county for emergency works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31027/12]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding allocated to County Kerry for coastal protection works in the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the amount of funding allocated nationally for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31028/12]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.

The Office of Public Works is indeed aware of the vast coastline and erosion issues of County Kerry. The county coastline is approximately 684 km length, of which some 378 km are classified as soft coastline and approximately 108 km have been identified as being at risk from coastal erosion based on previous studies. However, other counties, such as Mayo, Galway, Donegal, Wexford, Cork and Sligo, also have significant coastal erosion risk.

As coastal erosion is a natural and ongoing process and has beneficial as well as detrimental effects, it is important to consider very carefully in advance the justification for coastal erosion intervention measures. In some cases it can be difficult to justify such intervention on economic and/or environmental grounds. Such intervention is costly, both in terms of initial capital and ongoing maintenance costs and this must be borne in mind.

Interventions within a coastal area may cause problems at adjacent sections of the coast, and therefore any proposed intervention measures are best developed in conjunction with a formal coastal erosion study which carefully investigates the problem and explores the full range of erosion management options. It is a matter for local authorities to undertake such studies and OPW may fund such studies where warranted and subject to the availability of funds.

In some cases a "do nothing" or "no activation" intervention approach might be the most appropriate management response, and international studies have borne this out. The European Commission Eurosion study, "Living with Coastal Erosion in Europe", which was completed in 2004, highlighted some important findings including the fact that some previous interventions, while solving erosion problems locally, have exacerbated coastal erosion at other locations or generated other environmental problems. That study also highlighted the concept of coastal squeeze which occurs in low-lying and inter-tidal areas that would otherwise naturally adjust to change in sea levels, storms and tides but cannot do so due to the construction of sea walls and other inflexible coastal barriers. The outcome can often be a gradual loss of amenity beach and habitat.

In general, there is only a problem when there is a significant threat to infrastructure, properties and/or public safety. It is advisable for local authorities to take into consideration the potential hazards and risks associated with coastal erosion when approving planning applications for new developments in areas vulnerable to erosion.

Where intervention is justifiable and a local authority wishes to propose protection measures to manage coastal erosion then it may submit formal applications for funding under the OPW minor works and coastal protection scheme. This scheme was introduced in 2009 and provides funding to local authorities to undertake projects which cost no more than €500,000 in any one instance. Applications received are assessed in accordance with the scheme criteria and having regard to the availability of budgetary resources. OPW does not operate a scheme intended to fund exclusively emergency coastal erosion management works.

The allocation for coastal protection is included in the OPW's overall capital allocation for Flood Risk Management in any given year. Details of the funding allocated nationally and to Kerry County Council under the scheme are given below: