Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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319. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 110 and 111 of 13 May 2020, the status of the interdepartmental group to scope out an approach for the development of an integrated, whole-of-Government coastal strategy for managing the changing coast of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9966/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The National Coastal Change Management Strategy Steering Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Group is comprised of senior officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Met Éireann, and the County and City Management Association. The Group met for the first time on 3 September 2020.

Further to the meeting of the Steering Group in September, a technical working group has also been established under the stewardship of the OPW. The work of this group has focused on the identification and initial analysis of data sources, to underpin the work of the Steering Group.

Since the initial meeting in September, the work of the Steering Group is being progressed through a series of bilateral meetings to scope out the extent of the issues, including, inter alia, the threats and effects of coastal change as they relate to the remit of the individual Steering Group members and the wider stakeholders. At this stage of the process these bilateral engagements are considered to be the most effective approach to progressing the scoping work prior to reconvening the Group. This phase of the work is currently being finalised and I understand that the Steering Group will reconvene in the coming weeks to build further on the progress made with a view to initial reporting to Government as soon as possible.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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320. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he is taking to prevent the erosion of sand dune systems at Inchydoney and Barley Cove, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9967/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The sand dunes at Barley Cove and Inchydoney, County Cork are not in the ownership of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Any works to be done on these properties would be the responsibility of the landowners.

The Barley Cove dunes are within the boundary of the Barley Cove to Ballyrisode Point Special Area of Conservation and the Eastern part of the Inchydoney dunes is within the Clonakilty Bay Special Area of Conservation and the Clonakilty Bay Special Protection Area. The undertaking of certain specified operations and activities within these sites would require the prior written consent of the Minister or of another public authority, where applicable, in accordance with the site specific regulations.

I am advised that erosion and deposition are normal facets of the functioning of sand dunes systems.