Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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562. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of the critical situation faced by six families in the Burrow, Portrane given their homes are at imminent risk due to the effects of coastal erosion, with the winter season almost upon Ireland, with increasing storms and high tides; if a funding application for interim coastal protection measures has been submitted by the planning authority to the OPW to safeguard the SPA, SAC and the homes at imminent risk; what compensation is available to householders whose homes are lost to coastal erosion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44318/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I have met with and visited the residents in the Burrow, Portrane on a number of occasions, most recently in the Summer of this year. I remain in contact with them directly.

Tackling coastal change management in response to climate change will be complex, multi-faceted and dynamic, demanding a range of research, policy and consequential management responses. Ireland’s coast faces many challenges associated with climate change, for example, due, not only to projected sea level rise but also from increased storm frequency and intensity. These challenges have complex and multi-faceted effects and there is a need for a framework to inform key decisions as to how the State should best manage its changing coast having regard to such future risks.

My Department is leading the Government’s cross departmental steering group responsible for developing policy and technical responses to coastal erosion. This requires an assessment of potential interventions to gain a comprehensive understanding of their effectiveness and an assessment of potential risks and potential technical options to inform a wider rollout of such interventions.

In this regard, the cross departmental steering group is developing a pilot programme to allow for consideration of a range of scenarios, with criteria for selection of pilot/pathfinder proposals in known vulnerable locations across the country. Arising from these interventions there will be a need to incorporate learning from outcomes in order to improve the scope, capacity and timing of future responses. Government will also be required as part of this process of agreeing the programme, to consider arrangements for any associated funding that may be required.

With respect to responding to coastal change local authorities are, generally, responsible for the management of matters associated with coastal change and erosion in their respective administrative areas. Fingal County Council has been engaged in developing solutions to respond to the coastal erosion issues in Portrane for a number of years. Other coastal risks such as related to transport, agricultural, business, are addressed locally and through sectoral responses.

The OPW is responsible for the technical aspects of assessing coastal change impacts, including co-ordinating the monitoring of physical coastal change, assessing and mapping areas at risk from coastal erosion, the development of a coastal change research programme and assessing technical options to inform decisions on the management of coastal change for communities at risk, which may include the use of nature-based solutions. The OPW also has a role in funding local authorities to carry out minor works for coastal protection.

There are a number of ongoing programmes to assess the potential risks from coastal change. For example, the OPW commenced a Pilot Coastal Monitoring Survey Programme in 2020, which included Portrane, and a coastal erosion hazard mapping pilot project is now commencing.

The information derived from these programmes and projects will inform and support the assessment of coastal change hazards and risks and decisions on the management of coastal change risks in relevant areas and the long-term planning for the management of potential future change.