Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
892. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation his plans and budgets provided in 2026, 2027 and 2028 to address coastal erosion. [73999/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal 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.
The Minor Works Scheme is a demand orientated scheme. Funding is based on the estimated costs of the works required to deal with the risks submitted by the Local Authority.
Some 105 coastal protection projects, consisting of works and/or studies have been approved to date by the OPW under the Minor Works Scheme, since 2009. Over the last 3 years circa €3.8 million has been approved by the OPW for such projects submitted by the Local Authorities.
• 2025 - €734,025
• 2024 - €2,526,705
• 2023 - €537,118
The OPW will continue to work with Local Authorities to enable coastal erosion mitigation works to be undertaken through the Minor Works Scheme based on applications received.
Rosslare
The Rosslare Coastal Erosion and Flood Relief Scheme is currently at Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design. The Scheme comprises two elements of work which are being progressed as part of an overall integrated Scheme, namely: works to address flooding (to west side of Rosslare Strand) and works to address coastal erosion (to east side of Rosslare Strand). In 2021 Wexford County Council appointed Consulting Engineers to develop, design, and enable construction of the scheme.
To date circa €472,000 has been spent on this scheme with a planned spend of circa €450,000 over the next 2 years. The scheme currently has a substantial completion date of July 2030.
Coastal Change Management
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.
