Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 October 2026
15. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether, in the context of his Department’s marine responsibilities, his Department is engaging with the Office of Public Works, OPW, MARA, local authorities and other relevant bodies on opportunities for pilot projects that would combine coastal flood protection measures with the enhancement of marine habitats and biodiversity. [70958/26]
View answerI want to raise the opportunity for two things to work together: protecting our coastal communities from flooding while improving marine biodiversity. In Clontarf, we have seen the impact of coastal flooding. I welcome the Government's investment and the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Moran. I have been engaging with engineers, researchers and Dublin Port about innovative marine structures that could potentially reduce wave energy, while creating habitats for oysters, shellfish and other marine life. It will break the wave, not break the ecosystem. Will the Department take an active role in bringing the relevant agencies together to examine how we could deliver a properly assessed project?
I thank Deputy Heneghan for raising this point. I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, who has responsibility for the OPW. My Department's responsibilities include seafood policy and management and the regulation and sustainable development of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. While projects combining coastal flood protection measures with the enhancement of marine habitats and biodiversity do not fall directly within the remit of my Department, I recognise the value of such projects.
In respect of coastal flood protection measures specifically, my Department published its second statutory sectoral adaptation plan, SAP, for the agriculture, forestry and seafood sectors last year to cover the period from 2026 to 2030, inclusive. Coastal erosion and flooding have been included as risks to the seafood sector within the SAP in respect of aquaculture sites and seafood infrastructure, including processing plants, warehouses and harbours. The flood risk management sector, led by the OPW, is tasked with implementing protective measures as well as comprehensive planning to minimise disruptions and preserve the integrity of essential facilities within the seafood industry.
The Marine Institute is under the aegis of my Department. Obviously, the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, cannot be here today. As Minister of State with special responsibility for fisheries, he will take a first-hand role in this. The Marine Institute is also represented on the pillar 2 working group on coastal erosion, which is understanding risk and identifying potential risk management options. My Department and its agencies, namely, the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, are actively engaged in various interdepartmental working groups in respect of the restoration and protection of ecosystems in marine and coastal waters. The EU nature restoration regulation established legally binding targets to repair degraded ecosystems to address biodiversity loss and climate change. My Department and its agencies are represented on the interdepartmental working group on the restoration of the sea, which is led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Again, I just want to give that example, which we all saw on RTÉ last year when the flooding hit. There is a huge issue in one of the low points on the seafront in Clontarf with the depositing of silt. There is a solution that will not only stop this but will also benefit the ecosystem of Dublin Bay. I have been working with Councillor Kevin Breen and with engineers and researchers on the potential use of a specifically designed marine structure that will reduce wave energy while supporting marine biodiversity. Dublin Port has already worked with UCD on marine eco-engineering. The difficulty is now identifying which agency can take the lead. We also need to ensure that nothing delays or interferes with the permanent Clontarf flood defence scheme. Will the Minister ask his officials to engage directly with the OPW, MARA, Dublin Port and Dublin City Council and arrange an initial meeting to identify a lead agency and a suitable pathway for this project?
The Deputy raised a very specific point in relation to Clontarf and the concern that holds for his constituents, which I have no doubt is the case. I have no doubt that the Minister of State in my Department, Deputy Dooley, will be happy to engage in a meeting with the Deputy. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is amenable to that from the OPW side as well. We can go through those specific points and make sure we can be of assistance with regard to that. While different issues that arise, such as flooding or coastal erosion, may not necessarily be my Department's co-responsibility, we absolutely want to be able to work and help to make sure there are no impediments because there are different agencies involved. By working together politically, we can make sure of the best possible outcome for the people of Clontarf and beyond, for the key issues that impact our sea ecosystem and for the measures that are needed from a flooding perspective as well.
I thank the Minister very much. My constituents will be delighted with that response. We are just after the budget, when the Minister, Deputy Chambers, spoke about efficiency. We are going to spend a significant amount of public money protecting our coastline in the years ahead. Why should we not look at protecting our homes and improving marine biodiversity at the same time? I welcome what the Minister has just said. We have Irish engineers, brilliant universities and people graduating - researchers who are developing innovative solutions. What we need now is a way to test them and see what they can do. That means hydrodynamic modelling, which is done brilliantly in UCD; assessing the impact of wave energy and sediment movement; examining costs and durability; and monitoring the benefits for marine habitats. I am not asking the Minister to approve a particular product, but I am asking for a clear pathway for these technologies. Ahead of what is coming and what we need to be prepared for, we need to ensure that residents have certainty on protection, with minimal economic cost and the maximum environmental benefits.
I thank Deputy Heneghan again for raising this important point. More broadly, Ireland aims to expand its marine protected area, MPA, network to reach 30% of MPAs in Ireland's maritime area by 2030, aligning with one of the goals of the 2030 EU biodiversity strategy. The lead Department is the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. My Department and its agencies are providing valuable input to this process, including on the development of the new legislation for the effective designation and management of MPAs.
My Department is also represented on the working group and the national steering group for the implementation of the marine strategy framework directive. Ireland is required to take these measures towards achieving and maintaining good environmental status for its waters.
My Department also contributes to the working group on Ireland's fourth national biodiversity action plan, which is led by the NPWS. It sets the national biodiversity agenda for the period 2023 to 2030. The national biodiversity action plan is led by the NPWS. The marine divisions of my Department are represented on the biodiversity working group. That provides input into the national biodiversity action plan. Having the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran her shows that whenever he goes to do work around flood alleviation or other measures, there are an awful lot of different State agencies that need to come together. My Department will not be found wanting in continuing to collaborate and work with all interested parties.
