David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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317. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of serious costal erosion at Pilmore Beach, County Cork; the action the Office of Public Works may take as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44806/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Local Authorities are responsible for coastal erosion in their own areas. Local Authorities may carry out coastal protection works using their own resources. If necessary, they may also put forward proposals to the relevant Government Departments for funding of appropriate measures. Intervention or hard defences have the potential to cause problems further along the coast, any proposed intervention measures are best developed in conjunction with a formal Coastal Erosion Risk Management Study that has carefully investigated the problem and explored the full range of management options.

In 2023, The Office of Public Works (OPW) approved funding of €135,000 to Cork County Council for a Coastal Erosion Risk Management Study for Pilmore Cottages under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Once this study is complete, Cork County Council may consider submitting an application for measures to mitigate and manage coastal erosion in this area. The study area includes the shoreline adjacent to PiImore Cottages, and extends from Youghal to Ring on County Cork's coastline.

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. The works to be funded are carried out under Local Authority powers and ongoing maintenance of the completed works is the responsibility of the Council.

Under the 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. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.floodinfo.ie/.

Since 2009, the OPW has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of circa €6.6 million to County Cork for some 49 projects.