Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the State and EU funding available through the OPW to enable studies, investigations and other coastal protection works to be conducted that aim to limit the damaging effects of costal erosion in villages here; the way in which this funding is applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3939/20]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding the OPW has spent and allocated towards the costs of conducting studies and reports aimed at combating the effects of climate change and costal erosion since 2011, by county in tabular format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4712/20]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 134 together.

In the context of coastal erosion: The OPW and other Central Government Departments provide support, where possible, to Local Authorities around the country tackling coastal erosion. It is the responsibility of each Local Authority, in the first instance, to assess and address problems of coastal erosion in their own areas. The primary funding mechanism offered through the OPW for this is the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Under this scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, and the allocation of funding for the Minor Works scheme will be included in the overall allocation for flood risk management investment included under Vote 13 (Office of Public Works) in the Estimates for Public Services for 2020.

The table below outlines allocations and/or drawdowns for coastal/erosion risk management studies, per county, since 2011.

In the context of climate change: Consideration of the impacts of climate change is integral to the development and design for all flood relief schemes progressed by the OPW and its Local Authority partners.

It is not feasible, therefore, to provide budget-breakdowns of all activities specific to climate-change in the context of individual flood relief schemes under the Capital Flood Relief Programme, or overall expenditure in respect of flood risk management more generally. The OPW has, however, co-funded a number of specific national climate change research projects, as follows:

2016 - ‘Downscaling for Decision Making: Irish Climate Futures’:

OPW contribution: €78,537.20

2019 - ‘Sensitivity of fluvial flood peak flows to a changing climate’ (NUI Maynooth):

OPW contribution: € 157,863.60

2019 - ‘High-Resolution Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean-Wave Regional Climate Projections for Ireland’ (NUI Galway):

OPW contribution: € 43,748.75

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role the OPW played in assisting Clare County Council with the development of new costal erosion protection measures at Lahinch, County Clare; the cost associated with the entire costal erosion protection project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3940/20]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Following the severe storms of Winter 2013/2014 and on foot of submissions made by Clare County Council, total funding of €9,712,385 was allocated by the OPW to Clare County Council for the repair of damaged coastal protection infrastructure. This, however, was a once-off allocation and no further funding is available under this stream. Clare County Council has confirmed that some of the works carried out at Lahinch, which involved the repair and upgrading of the existing rock revetment and the repair of the existing sea wall damaged by the storms, were carried out using this funding. The Deputy is advised to contact the Local Authority directly for the total cost of the Coastal erosion protection measures at Lahinch.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the attention of the OPW has been drawn to the damage being caused by costal erosion in the seaside village of Strandhill, County Sligo; the works the OPW has conducted in the area to try and alleviate the problem since 2000; the amount of funding allocated to the village by the OPW for costal protection works since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3942/20]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I am advised that, in the first instance, the management of problems of coastal protection in the area indicated remains a matter for Sligo County Council. The Council may carry out coastal protection works using its own resources, but where necessary, the Council may also put forward proposals to the relevant central Government Departments, including the OPW, for funding of appropriate measures depending on the infrastructure or assets under threat.

Since 2000, funding of €349,000 has been approved, under the Office of Public Works’ (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, for works on a number of coastal projects at Strandhill.

Furthermore, following the severe storms of Winter 2013/2014 and on foot of submissions made by the Sligo County Council, additional funding of €291,210 was allocated by the OPW to Sligo County Council for the repair of damaged coastal protection infrastructure. The Council has confirmed that the repairs to the rock armour revetment at the waste water treatment plant and works on the south side revetments in Strandhill were carried out using this funding. This, however, was a once-off allocation and no further funding is available under this stream.

It remains open to Sligo County Council, however, to apply for funding under the Office of Public Works’ (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, under which applications for funding from Local Authorities are considered for measures costing not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for projects that meet the eligibility criteria, including a requirement that the proposed measures are cost beneficial.