Local coastal erosion and flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address.
Minor Works Scheme
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide 90% funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding or coastal erosion problems. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. The funding available for each scheme has recently been increased from €750,000 to €2 million. Further details related to this are due to be announced shortly.
The Minor Works Scheme is a demand led scheme. Funding allocated is based on the cost submitted by the local authorities for consideration.
Once funding has been approved it is the responsibility for the local authority to progress the scheme.
Since 2009, OPW has approved 18 projects and some €2m of funding to Waterford City and County Council (WCCC) under the Minor Works Schemes. Some €0.26m of this relates to coastal erosion.
The following funding has been approved for WCCC under the Minor Works Scheme since 2021.
|
Scheme
|
Approved
|
Project Details
|
Funding €
|
|
Ardmore Bay
|
23/02/2024
|
Study
|
19,207
|
|
Ardmore Bay
|
27/07/2021
|
Study
|
61,815
|
|
Kilfarrassy to Tramore
|
01/12/2022
|
Study
|
81,724
|
|
Total
|
|
|
162,746
|
WCC has submitted additional information in relation to five Minor Works Applications for Ardmore Bay. The OPW is currently considering this information.
Interim Flood Relief Measures
I recently met with the Chief Executives and Directors of Services from the eight local authorities affected by Storm Chandra and thanked the local authorities for their response to those flooding events. I have approved once off funding as an informed response to Storm Chandra. Waterford City and County Council have been allocated €141,525 under these interim flood relief measures.
Flood Relief Schemes in Waterford
In 2018, the Flood Risk Management Plans identified the locations for future flood relief schemes. The delivery model for these is being led by local authorities, through agreement with the County and City Management Association. In line with the agreed national delivery model for flood relief schemes Waterford City and County Council is leading on the delivery of flood relief schemes for Aglish and Ballyduff. Funding for these schemes is available from the Office of Public Works, through the €1.3bn for flood relief measures under the National Development Plan.
Coastal Monitoring
Tramore, Dungarven and Ardmore were included in the Pilot Coastal Monitoring Survey Programme (CMSP), a five year pilot project which ran from 2020 to 2024. The purpose of the CMSP was to obtain up to date coastal survey data to inform and facilitate enhanced management of the associated coastal risks; to quantify and identify rates of change; identify areas of recovery or accretion; support the development and/or updating of numerical coastal process models to improve our knowledge and understanding of the behaviour and impact of tides, waves and sediment transport at the coast and of how these may change over time and potentially increase risk for coastal communities.
The Government recognises the risks associated with climate change and that increases in sea levels and storm surges will result in increased frequency of 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 Management.
The OPW is currently developing a national coastal change monitoring programme. In the interim, aerial photography and LiDAR surveys will continue to be conducted in the monitoring areas identified for annual surveys in the Pilot CMSP, including Tramore, Dungarvan and Ardmore.
