406. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for immediate emergency works on Rosslare Strand to combat the rapid disappearance of the beach due to severe coastal erosion, as waiting for works to begin in 2028 may be too late; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21840/26]

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). 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. 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.

In relation to immediate emergency works, local coastal erosion and flooding issues are a matter 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.

The OPW understands that various stakeholders have completed works along Rosslare Strand. Since 2009, the OPW has approved some €570,000 for coastal erosion works or studies at Rosslare Strand that are being delivered by Wexford County Council under its own statutory powers.

I recently met with the Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, who highlighted the immediate erosion risks and discussed the possibility of some interim works at Rosslare Strand. The Council is liaising with the consultants for the Rosslare CEFRS on the protection being provided by the existing measures at the location of highest risk, and informed by that assessment, it is open to the Council to make a further application for some interim works, following that assessment.

Rosslare 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 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.

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 Rosslare.