Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
14. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to comment on the landslide in Alaska that resulted in one of the largest ever tsunamis globally, the cause and impact on Ireland and Irish waters of such events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35683/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGeological Survey Ireland (GSI), which is part of my Department, has responsibility in relation to tsunami risk in Ireland. They have studied the recent Alaskan event, which occurred due to a major landslide in a narrow "fjord type" bay, and advise that no similar situation arises in Ireland. Ireland's only fjord is Killary Harbour and it has no record of wave inducing landslides and the area has been mapped as part of the National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping programme by GSI.
Ireland is a member of the North East Atlantic and Mediterranean Tsunami warning System. The most likely scenario for a tsunami to occur in Ireland relates to an Atlantic earthquake or a repeat of the Lisbon 1755 event, which caused a minor tsunami in Ireland. Modelled results indicate that a tsunami event is unlikely to flood above the currently indicated 1:100 year event and therefore is adequately allowed for in current planning maps, developed under the OPW's National Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.
In summary, tsunami is considered a low risk for Ireland based on present research and modelling and it is believed the current flood planning maps make adequate provision regarding planning.
