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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Portrane coastal erosion

Summary

Deputy Smith warned that severe coastal erosion in Portrane is threatening homes and needs immediate intervention. The Taoiseach said the Minister of State had visited, the Ministers concerned were engaged, and urgent adaptation measures are needed.

I have been ringing alarm bells for several years in relation to coastal erosion in Portrane. Last week during Storm Bram, some families lost 5 m of garden in just a four-hour period. They simply cannot wait around any longer for the planning process, working groups or task forces. They are at risk of losing their homes and they need help. We are looking at potentially hundreds of families being homeless without a swift response from Government.

This Dáil term, I contacted the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, who knows the issue well and Ministers of State, Deputies Dooley and Moran, who in the past has been a good friend to Portrane, but we have seen no action. Any permanent solution is a minimum of three years away. My colleague Councillor Corina Johnson and I are pleading with the Taoiseach to get the relevant Ministers around the table and up to Portrane and to please deliver emergency measures to protect the community.

Comment on this

I thank the Deputy for raising a critical and acute issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, visited Portrane yesterday, so he is well aware of this. We will take any measures we can to help and I will talk to the Minister in respect of this. The Minister for Transport, Deputy OBrien, is also very concerned about this and is in consultations with the Minister of State.

Coastal erosion is a growing issue and I accept that adaptation needs greater focus. We asked prior to the NDP being developed that more generally adaptation in the country require very prompt and necessary comprehensive treatment into the future, and that includes coastal erosion.

Comment on this