By Dan Walsh
The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Patrick O’Donovan TD, yesterday (Wednesday), visited Rosslare Strand to announce €7 million funding for further coastal protection and flood relief projects in the area.
Minister O’Donovan met with local public representatives, Council officials and local business interests to see where flood protection and erosion prevention works are required.
At various intervals in the past Rosslare has benefited from effective works undertaken by the OPW and Wexford County Council to protect the Rosslare shoreline and dune system from retreat. To support the benefits already achieved, additional works are now required to ensure that this important blue flag beach can continue to be protected into the future.
Minister O’Donovan said: “The coastal protection measures for Rosslare consist of a rock revetment, rock groynes, and beach nourishment measures on the seaward side of Rosslare Spit. Separate flood defence measures will be progressed on the landward side. The project will be led by Wexford County Council, which is soon to begin the procurement of a main design consultant.
“Rosslare is just one example of how coastal erosion is a major issue for coastal communities across Ireland’s extensive coastline, especially where the coast is soft. The impacts of climate change and the anticipated rise in sea levels in the future mean that the problem here in Rosslare and nationally needs more than just hard schemes to address the long-term risks and impacts.
WexfordLocal.com 