Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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52. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform why so little money was allocated to the provision of coastal defence works at the Murrough in County Wicklow; if he is aware of the significant costs of the remedial works which are needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3307/16]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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53. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the recent destruction of the Murrough site in County Wicklow, if he will review the events which led to the rapid erosion of the Murrough site in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3308/16]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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54. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to release emergency funds to deal with the rapid erosion of the Murrough in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3309/16]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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55. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the timetable for the actions to repair the damage caused to the Murrough in County Wicklow in early January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3310/16]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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56. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform why the funding for the planned works in the Murrough in County Wicklow was released in November of 2015, which was too late for work to be carried out in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3311/16]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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57. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has reviewed the Murrough in County Wicklow to ascertain if damage has been caused to the rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3312/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 to 57, inclusive, together.

I am very aware of the issues at the Murrough in Wicklow and I have been in regular contact with the local community and Wicklow County Council in this regard.

The primary objective of policy on coastal protection is to ensure that in areas identified by local authorities as being at greatest risk of damage or loss to economic assets through coastal erosion or flooding,  appropriate and sustainable measures are identified by the local authorities to protect those assets and, where intervention measures are economically justified on cost benefit grounds and compatible with all required environmental and other statutory requirements, they are implemented subject to the availability of resources.  

It is open to local authorities to undertake any required remedial works using their own resources. Alternatively, if necessary, local authorities may apply for funding to carry out proposed works under the Office of Public Works (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

It is a matter therefore for Wicklow County Council in the first instance to address coastal erosion problems at the Murrough site in Co. Wicklow and I have made it clear to the local authority of the options in relation to seeking funding from the OPW.

An application under the OPW Minor Works Scheme was received from Wicklow County Council in 2015 to fund repair works at the Murrough, Co Wicklow. The application was sent to OPW's Engineers to make an assessment of the technical merits of the proposal and to make a recommendation on the provision of funding. 

The application was subsequently approved in early October 2015, after which the Council was notified that the OPW had approved €135,000 funding for the works. 

The implementation of the works is a matter for the Council but it is understood that works have commenced. 

It is also understood that the Council is to make a revised application for further funding to the OPW in the coming weeks to undertake urgent works on the Murrough site for some recent damage which occurred there, which will be duly assessed once received. 

I will be ensuring this application is assessed as quickly as possible to try and assist with this issue.

It is also understood that Iarnród Éireann intend to develop proposals and undertake significant protection works over the next year or so in this area in order to protect the railway line. I met with the Chief Executive of Irish Rail in Wicklow Town recently and he assured me that he would liaise with the local authority on this matter.

I might also point out that the OPW provided a once-off allocation of funding to Wicklow County Council in September 2015 for coastal repair works the Council considered necessary following the severe storms which affected the country in early 2014. 

It is a matter for the Council to prioritise which areas the funding might be used for.

Details of the OPW's Minor Works scheme are available on the OPW website at: ).