Ireland experienced one of its most damaging, dangerous and destructive weather events in the form of Storm Éowyn, with gale-force and storm-force winds and severe gusts of over 183 km/h, a record for Ireland.
As the Lead Government Department for coordinating the response to severe weather, my Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management coordinated the whole-of-Government response through the National Emergency Coordination Group.
Following the conclusion of that response, a review was undertaken in accordance with the Strategic Emergency Management Framework. The review examined all aspects of the coordinated response to Storm Éowyn, with a view to identifying key lessons across all sectors and supporting the implementation of recommendations. All relevant Government Departments participated in the review process.
The review identified measures to strengthen national preparedness, community supports and the resilience of critical infrastructure. The impacts of Storm Éowyn should serve as a reminder that responding effectively to the challenges presented by sea level rise, coastal erosion and flooding requires a coordinated, evidence-based and long-term approach.
Ireland’s approach to coastal change management remains guided by the work of the Inter-Departmental Group on the National Coastal Change Management Strategy, which was established by Government to support informed decision-making on how best to manage the coastline in light of future risks and planning needs. In October 2023, the Group published a scoping report setting out 15 recommendations to inform the development of a National Coastal Change Management Strategy. These include recommendations on coastal monitoring and data collection, a national assessment of coastal change risk, and the assessment of technical risk-management options.
Following publication of the Report, the Government approved the establishment of an inter-departmental Steering Group, chaired by my Department, to coordinate progression of the recommendations. The Steering Group brings together relevant Government Departments and State bodies with responsibilities relating to climate adaptation, flood risk management, planning, environmental protection and local government.
To support this work, a number of dedicated working groups have been established to advance specific thematic areas. These include working groups on Planning, Legislation, Nature-Based Solutions, and Training and Skills. Additionally, the Office of Public Works chairs a working group focused specifically on actions under Pillar 2 relating to risk assessment and technical options. These groups meet between Steering Group sessions and report directly to it, enabling detailed consideration of priority actions while maintaining overall strategic oversight.
The Office of Public Works has lead responsibility at national level for flood risk management and is the key State body for the technical assessment of coastal change risk. Its work includes monitoring physical coastal change, mapping and assessing coastal hazards and risks, supporting research and the assessment of technical options, and preparing and reviewing coastal flood risk maps and Flood Risk Management Plans.
National coastal flood mapping indicates the areas that may be affected during a range of theoretical coastal flood events and includes separate modelling of the potential effects of climate change. It is not intended to designate individual properties or locations as being at risk and does not replace detailed local or site-specific assessment.
It is also intended that a number of priority areas for pilot projects will be identified which reflect the diverse challenges associated with managing and adapting to coastal change. The assessment criteria will include the management of coastal risk in urban areas, the protection of human life and property, the protection or adaptation of vulnerable infrastructure, the protection and restoration of coastal ecosystems, and the protection or adaptation of strategically important rural tourism sites. Engagement with the local authority sector will inform the identification and assessment of potential projects, following which appropriate funding and governance arrangements will be considered.
Local authorities are generally responsible for identifying and developing local management responses to coastal change and erosion within their administrative areas, supported by national policy, mapping and technical inputs. Accordingly, the identification of particular communities requiring local interventions will depend on the relevant national risk information and more detailed local and site-specific assessment.
My Department will continue to support coordinated action by the relevant public bodies within the overall national climate adaptation and flood risk management framework.
