Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

131. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the actions he will take to stop erosion of the priority one habitat machair in Mannin, Ballyconneely, County Galway, where a considerable amount of the machair was destroyed during the storms of January and February 2014; if it is intended to do coastal protection works there to stop further erosion of this priority habitat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15903/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department recognises that the storms in January and February of this year have resulted in considerable damage to lands and property, and changes along the coastline, including in areas that have been designated as NATURA 2000 sites. Coastal defence work is not part of my Department's remit but my Department contributed to the Guidance on Works and Development Consents for Repairing Infrastructure Damaged in Storms or other Emergency Events, issued after the storms by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, working with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, the OPW, tge Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

It is important to recognise that coastlines undergo a constant cycle of erosion and accretion as part of natural processes. Shorelines absorb the energy entering the coastal zone by redistributing sediment. Material that is eroded from one section of the coast accumulates in another, such that the contours of the coastline are constantly in a state of change. Interference with these natural dynamic processes (by trying to slow down or stop them) can sometimes invite further instability and increased rates of damage to land and property in the area concerned. The construction of physical barriers such as sea defences can interrupt longshore drift, leading to beach starvation and increased rates of erosion in adjacent areas. Therefore, care must be taken to consider fully the effects of any response to erosional events. Erosion can also be exacerbated by human impacts and this also needs to be taken into account.

As the Deputy is aware, Machair is a priority habitat and is listed as a qualifying interest for the Slyne Head Peninsula Special Area of Conservation (site code: 2074).

Constant cycles of erosion and stabilisation are considered part of a naturally functioning dune/machair system. Erosion, in particular, plays an important role in the formation of machair, as the true machair plain is where wind erosion has eroded the original dune system down to a level just above the water table, where the wet consistency of the sand prevents further erosion.

My Department will continue to assist and provide advice in this matter as appropriate.