Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
317. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Department considers current inaction at Rosslare Strand to be consistent with its obligations under the Coast Protection Act 1963; to provide the legal basis for any continued delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17880/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra318. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation which body is the lead authority for delivery of coastal protection works at Rosslare Strand (details supplied); to outline the governance and accountability arrangements currently in place to progress the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17881/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra319. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to detail any outstanding regulatory, planning, procurement or environmental assessment issues preventing commencement of works at Rosslare Strand; to provide a date by which each issue will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17882/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra320. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether a current risk assessment exists for Rosslare Strand in light of recent storm damage; if so, to publish the findings and any recommendations made to mitigate immediate and long-term risks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17883/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra321. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation his Department’s assessment of the economic and employment impacts of continued coastal erosion at Rosslare Strand, including risks to tourism, local businesses, transport links and public infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17884/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra322. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to commit to publishing a clear public timeline with milestones for the delivery of the Rosslare Strand coastal protection scheme, including procurement, start date, and completion date, along with progress updates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17885/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra323. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation when construction will commence on the Rosslare Strand coastal protection scheme; the definitive timeline for each phase of the works; the reasons for the continued delay in implementation of the scheme identified in the 2018 RPS Coastal Erosion and Flood Management Study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17886/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra324. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the immediate interim protective measures that will be put in place at Rosslare Strand ahead of the next winter storm season to prevent further erosion and risk to homes, infrastructure and the local economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17887/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra325. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the funding that has been allocated in 2026–2028 for coastal protection works at Rosslare Strand; the amount ring-fenced for the project; when these funds will be released for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17888/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra326. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the estimated cost of the Rosslare Strand coastal protection scheme has increased since the 2018 estimate of €7.5 million; if so, to provide the revised costings and the reason for any increase attributable to delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17889/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra327. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the State’s statutory obligations in respect of Rosslare Strand under the Coast Protection Act 1963, including section 26(5); the way in which the Department is ensuring that coastal protection works at Rosslare are maintained in proper repair and effective condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17890/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326 and 327 together.
Wexford County Council (WCC) has agreed with the support of the Office of Public Works (OPW), to lead the Rosslare Coastal Erosion and Flood Relief Scheme (Rosslare CEFRS). In December 2021 WCC appointed Nicholas O'Dwyer Ltd. Consulting Engineers to develop, design, and facilitate construction of a Rosslare Coastal Erosion and Flood Relief Scheme that is technically, socially, environmentally and economically acceptable, which will provide long term protection for the community of Rosslare Strand. The Scheme design is likely to include rock revetments, groynes, an extensive beach nourishment programme and work on embankments on the Burrow Road.
Progression of the Rosslare CEFRS Scheme is managed through a project Steering Group (comprising representatives from the Council and the OPW), that meets monthly and is going through the following five stage process:
• Stage 1: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design;
• Stage 2: Public Exhibition/Confirmation/Planning Approval;
• Stage 3: Detailed Design;
• Stage 4: Implementation/Construction; &
• Stage 5: Handover.
The Scheme is currently at the latter phase of Stage 1 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 on the west side of the Scheme (i.e. Burrow Road); and works to address coastal erosion on the east side of the Scheme.
In 2025, draft Options Reports were prepared by the Scheme’s consultant for both the west and east side. Following discussions with the National Parks and Wildlife Service on the potential options, further revisions are currently being made to the Options Reports. It is currently envisaged that the Options Reports will be finalised in Q2 2026. While the preferred design option will inform a revised project budget, the Scheme currently has an approved Project Budget of some €7.6m. Funding for the scheme is being made available under the National Development Plan. The economic viability of the preferred option will be assessed through a benefit to cost ratio, in line with established practice for engineering projects of this nature.
With regards to environmental monitoring, Winter Birds, Habitats and Invasive Species Surveys have been completed and will be updated as required. The Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) for both the Burrow Road and Rosslare Strand will be progressed in Q3 2026 with the expected final EIAR due in Q1 2027. Subject to successful planning consent, the construction for the scheme is expected to commence in Q4 2028, with substantial completion in Q3 2030. The project Steering Group publish regular updates on the project, including timelines for key milestone on the project website www.floodinfo.ie/frs/en/rosslare/home
Following the completion of a Marine Area Regulatory Authority application for a Marine Area Consent, that is currently programmed for submission in Q3 2026, it is currently expected that a Part 10 planning application will be lodged for the Scheme by WCC in Q2 of 2027. The scheme is not being progressed under the Coastal Protection Act, 1963.
In line with the Infrastructure Guidelines WCC is the lead authority or Sponsoring Agency for the Scheme and the OPW is the Approving Authority. The OPW and WCC are committed to progressing the Scheme in accordance with its agreed project programme. Projects of this nature and scale are complex and delays against profiled programme can occur due to a variety of constraints and factors, including demand in the market for surveys, extended timeframes to obtain planning decisions, extensive and increasing environmental assessments, and Judicial Review processes. The project steering group for the Scheme manages these risks to minimise the potential impact on project programme and costs.
Local coastal erosion and flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address. The OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the 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.
Since 2009, the OPW has approved some €570,000 for coastal erosion works or studies at Rosslare Strand that are being delivered by WCC under its own own statutory powers. I met this week with the Chief Executive of WCC and discussed the possibility of some interim works at Rosslare Strand. WCC is liaising with the scheme’s consultants on the protection being provided by the existing measures and it is open to the Council to make a further application for some interim works, following that assessment.
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.
Rosslare Strand was 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, wave and sediment transport at the coast and of how these may change over time and potentially increase risk for coastal communities.
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 at Rosslare Strand.
