Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline what support his Department has, and can, make available to address coastal erosion and also beach renourishment at the beach at Courtown Harbour, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4019/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Coastal protection and localised flooding issues are matters, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address.

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 flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. Applications for funding from local authorities for measures or studies costing up to €750,000 can be made under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the total cost is available, subject to meeting specific economic, technical, social, and environmental criteria.

Since 2009, the OPW has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of approximately €4.9 million to County Wexford for some 22 projects. This includes approved funding of approximately €2.5 million for coastal erosion studies/projects in County Wexford. Projects subject to approved funding are the responsibility of the relevant local authority to advance.

The Government recognises the risks associated with climate change and that increases in sea levels and storm surges will result in more frequent coastal erosion. In response to these challenges, the recommendations outlined in the Report of the Interdepartmental Group on National Coastal Change Management Strategy are being implemented. Amongst the key recommendations of the Report is the assignment of the lead coordination role to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which is responsible for chairing an Interdepartmental Steering Group on Coastal Change Management.

The OPW has been designated by Government as the national lead coordinating body for the assessment of coastal change hazards and risks and the assessment of technical options and constraints. These assessments will build upon indicative assessment work previously undertaken by the OPW under the Irish Coastal Protection Strategy Study and comprise a substantial, multi-annual programme of work to assess coastal risk nationally, and then in detail at higher-risk locations as a basis for then determining potential viable works to manage this risk. This work will contribute to the work of the Interdepartmental Steering Group on Coastal Change.