22. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on proposals to implement coastal protection measures and ensure continued access to properties on a road (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40450/26]

Local coastal erosion and flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address. Funding may be made available to Local Authorities for coastal erosion protection through the Minor Works Scheme. The OPW are currently funding nine local authority staff in Cork County Council (CCC) to manage the delivery of flood relief schemes.

Minor Works Scheme

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works (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 project has been increased from €750,000 to €2 million. I announced the details of the revised criteria for the Minor Works Scheme on May 25th.

Since 2009, OPW has approved some 57 projects and some €7.3 million to county Cork under the Minor Works Schemes. Some €1.14m of funding relates to coastal erosion works or studies.

Finure-Guileen Cliff Minor Works Application

In February 2024 Cork County Council applied for €495,000 in funding under the Minor Works Scheme to carry out design and construction works at Finure Co. Cork. The Council had highlighted erosion of the cliff putting at risk an access road to 6 residential properties. The Council intended to carry out cliff stabilisation works with rock armour protection.

In July 2024 the OPW approved the Council's Minor Works application, this approval was valid until the end of June 2025.

In May 2025 the Council indicated that due to the complexity of the design they would have to apply to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) for a Maritime Area Consent prior to making a Planning application for the works and requested an extension to the funding period to end of December 2025. The OPW agreed to this extension.

In January 2026 Cork County Council wrote to the OPW informing them that a Maritime Area Consent application had been submitted in December 2025 to MARA in relation to the construction of heavy rock armour. Additional information on this application was requested by MARA in March and May 2026.

The Council has confirmed that their consultant has recently submitted a response to the request by MARA for additional information.

A decision by MARA is awaited on this application.