£1.5m needed to tackle Mayo coastal erosion

16 December 1998

A ROAD leading to a number of North Mayo homes will be washed away by the pounding Atlantic unless immediate coastal protection works are carried out, a Dail Deputy has warned.

Mr. Enda Kenny TD said the area at Ardmore, Binghimstown would soon be completely inaccessible unless £20,000 was provided for the strengthening of a 15 metre section of sea wall along the road.

Deputy Kenny had quizzed the Minister for the Marine Dr. Michael Woods if he had considered the applications for costal protection works in Mayo and the estimated costs involved.

In his reply the Minister stated that five applications were submitted to his Department in March 1995. They were in respect of Bertra, Old Head and Carrowmore beaches for sand dune protection, rock armouring, protection of woodlands and repairs to pier deck at a cost of £300,000.

Belmullet Town and Elly Bay Strand: repair to quay and canal, walls including underpinning and rebuilding sections at a cost of £250,000.

Keel, Dooagh and Keel beaches: sand dune protection and rock armouring at a cost of £250,000.

The Golden Strand, Dugort was also included bu no information was given on the works required.

In September 1995 four applications were made for Bertra Beach (£50,000) and Keel Brach (£60,000) for dune protection; Ross Brach (£50,000) for beach protection and Claggan Island (£60,000) for dune and causeway protection.

In April 1997 an application was made for £10,000 for the strengthening or reinforcement close to the sixth green at Mulranny Golf Club.

In Mayo of the same year an application was made to the Department for the £20,000 for the works at Ardmore, Binghamstown.

Three applications were made under the Interdepartmental Co-Ordinating Committee on Island Development in respect of £86,000 to improve access/coastal erosion study at Claggan; £40,000 for coastal protection near Bullsmouth, Inishbiggle and £60,000 for coastal protection at the slipway at Inishbiggle.

Minister Woods said financial assistance was made available to Mayo County Council for works at Beltra (78,000) and Claggan 9£11,250).

He said: "In the 1999 Book of Estimates the Government have provided for a significant increase in capital coast protection works to £3.71m - more than a four fold increase.

"In addition to proposals from Mayo County Council I have received a comprehensive array of proposals for coast protection works from local authorities right around the coast.

"I am developing an overall national strategy which will facilitate systematic prioritisation of coast protection needs, in consultation with local authorities."

Mr. Kenny stated: "The locations submitted by Mayo County Council since march 1995 are only indicative of the worst cases on the Mayo coastline.

"The estimates submitted by the County Council amount to in excess of £1.5m, which is 50% of the total works for the entire country provided in the book of estimates for 1999.

"It is most unlikely that given the range of priorities already established by Government that Mayo will receive any significant allocation to deal with these particular cases."

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - December 1998