Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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148. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if necessary financial assistance will be provided to Fingal County Council to tackle the alarming rate of coastal erosion that is occurring at The Burrow, Portrane, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17716/18]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I fully appreciate the serious concerns of the local people in relation to the problem of erosion at Portrane. I have visited the area and seen the problem at first hand. While addressing the problem is a matter for Fingal County Council (FCC), the Office of Public Works (OPW) is working with the Council to assist it in finding a proper long term solution to the problems at Portrane.

The key objective is for FCC and its engineering advisers, following a full assessment of the situation, to develop and implement an effective management plan to address the erosion issues at Portrane.

On 16th March 2018, my officials met with FCC where this issue was discussed. Following this meeting the Council with its engineering advisers is working to finalise its assessment with a view preparing a management plan which will include workable near term measures to address the problem and a sustainable long term solution.

Any viable solution identified may be undertaken by the local authority using its own resources or, if necessary, through funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme on application by FCC.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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149. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the preparation of a national coastal erosion strategy or plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17717/18]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is not responsible for the preparation of a national coastal erosion strategy or plan.

The OPW has undertaken a national assessment of coastal erosion (including erosion rates) under the Irish Coastal Protection Strategy Study (ICPSS) and the results of this study have been published on the OPW website. This Study assists Local Authorities (LA’s) to meet their statutory obligations in relation to coastal erosion and to develop appropriate plans and strategies for the sustainable management of the coastline in their counties.

The LA’s may carry out coastal erosion works using their own resources. Where coastal erosion could give rise to a coastal flood risk, the OPW operates the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, under which applications for funding from LA’s are considered for measures costing up to €750,000 in each instance. In that context, funding for coastal erosion risk management studies may also be applied for under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for projects which meet the eligibility criteria including a requirement that the proposed measures are cost beneficial.

The OPW has published guidelines for coastal erosion risk management measures and funding applications under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, available on the OPW website.

I will next week be announcing the Flood Risk Management Plans with the proposed measures to protect 90 coastal communities from their assessed flood risk, in the coming years. These Flood Risk Management Plans were developed through the OPW’s Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.