First, I thank the Deputy for raising what is the very important and pressing issue of coastal erosion across the country, but specifically in the south east. The Government is committed to progressing a co-ordinated, long-term approach to managing coastal change. I know there have been a variety of coastal works and funding at specific points, particularly in Wexford, in terms of the coastal protection scheme and minor flood mitigation, which is done by the OPW. As the Deputy knows, a report was published in 2023 by the interdepartmental group on the national coastal change management strategy. It establishes the strategic framework and identifies the priority actions required to underpin a national coastal change management strategy. To date, in essence, the OPW has allocated funding of about €650,000 for coastal protection works at Seaview, for example, including strengthening rock armour to counter ongoing erosion. Further moneys of about €300,000 were allocated before that, in 2024, making some €2 million overall in that area. The more fundamental point that the Deputy makes is the need for two things. I agree with him that climate change is causing this. We need a more co-ordinated structure. I had a meeting recently in the context of the recent storms. I raised this issue at the climate meeting on coastal erosion. I am not satisfied that we have the necessary infrastructure from a structural point of view in terms of decision-making within the Government. Many people were leaving it to the local authorities, but I think that if we leave it to the local authorities on a local authority-by-local authority basis, that may not be sustainable. Adaptation, including ring-fenced funding for adaptation, is critical. I will be examining this further in terms of a more centralised approach to coastal erosion that is far more proactive than what we have had to date. We know that, unfortunately, some local authorities are more proactive than others. There is inertia in others, and that is not sustainable, in my view. There has to be a far more direct approach from the centre to make sure that some of these works get done. To be fair, the OPW has done a lot of work, and I know the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, was in Donabate recently. It did exceptional work there on an interim basis to protect houses and households. This is coming quickly. It is a very rapidly evolving situation. If we look at the climate change projections, the seas are going to rise, so we need stronger coastal protection, and we need to do it on a systemic and structured basis, with agencies clearly in charge and directing operations.

Sentiment score: 0.13

I thank the Deputy. The projections are there. There has been comprehensive surveying of the coastal area of the island. Climate change will have fairly significant negative impacts, particularly rising sea levels, but also the frequency and velocity of the storms we are witnessing on our coastlines, all of which creates a very challenging situation for us. We have to respond with proper structures and systems, and be far more proactive. We need a ring-fenced approach to the adaptation issue because climate change is here and now, and its impacts will increase over time. It will impact on food production systems. The extended rain season we have had now is already impacting on farming practice and what would ordinarily be happening right now. We are now facing another two days of intense rainfall. In front of our very eyes, food production systems and coastal areas are being challenged and we have to respond.

Sentiment score: 0.18