Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
284. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of projects in receipt of funding from the LIFE Programme in Dublin; if any Life Programme funding is being used to support coastal protection works in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29744/26]
View answerThe LIFE Programme is the EU’s dedicated funding instrument for environment and climate action. All funding under the Programme is awarded centrally by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) following a competitive application and independent evaluation process.
It is not always possible to disaggregate funding for large-scale national strategic projects to specific geographic areas such as Dublin. Two current major national projects, the MPA LIFE Ireland (€25 million) and LIFE SNaP Ireland (€33.9 million), are implemented on a national basis and deliver benefits across the country, including in the greater Dublin region. It is therefore not feasible to attribute a precise Dublin-specific share of these projects.
Separately, LIFE EMERALD coordinated by the EPA, a project with a total spend of approximately €1.6million, supported emissions modelling and air quality forecasting across Ireland. While this project had particular relevance to Dublin, it remains a national programme, making it difficult to attribute a precise Dublin-specific share.
Apart from these national initiatives, there are LIFE projects with a direct Dublin focus which have been successful recently in the LIFE Programme. The Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project, led by South Dublin County Council has received approximately €1.3 million in LIFE co-funding to improve urban water quality through the identification and remediation of household misconnections and the construction of integrated wetlands.
The DIRECT LIFE project, coordinated by the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, received €219,680 in LIFE co-funding to deliver a modern and robust digital campaign for the Circular Economy, building on international best practice.
No LIFE Programme funding is currently being used to support coastal protection works such as hard engineering or traditional coastal defence infrastructure in Dublin. LIFE projects focus on nature restoration, biodiversity and climate adaptation rather than structural coastal protection measures and rarely funds Capital projects.
In Ireland, coastal protection is primarily a matter for the local authority concerned in the first instance. Local authorities (county and city councils) are responsible for the management of issues associated with coastal change and erosion within their administrative areas. While local authorities lead on works, the Office of Public Works (OPW) holds responsibility for technical assessments, coordinating, monitoring and mapping areas at risk. The OPW also administers the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
Local Authorities are encouraged to apply for the LIFE Programme and will be supported to do so through the Ireland4LIFE project.
The National Contact Point for the LIFE Programme in my Department works to maximise Irish participation in the LIFE Programme and to support high-quality applications from all regions including Dublin.
