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The Government has announced a € 7 million protection plan to save the Rosslare are of Co Wexford coastline from erosion.
However, no timeline has been defined for the start and completion of the project, as it must go through the design and planning phases before work can begin.
Rosslare Strand and nearby stretches of the southeast coast have suffered from shoreline drift erosion for years, and sand is washed away, particularly in times of storms and high winds.
The protection scheme will consist of rock breakwaters (structures built perpendicular to the shoreline) and rock coverings to protect against wave action, as well as beach “nutrition” measures. The flood defense work will also be built on land.
The approval of the funding for the project was announced today in Rosslare by the Minister of State responsible for the OPW, Patrick O’Donovan, who said that the work is “long overdue” and described it as “a massive plan” for the region. .
“A lot of sand has been washed up here over the years and I suppose it has not only put properties at risk, but also reduced amenity, so we want to protect the beaches,” he said.
When asked about a timeline for the project, he said it first has to go through the design and planning processes before the work of OPW and the Wexford County Council can begin.
“I haven’t been in this job long, but one thing I’ve learned from my predecessor and others is that there are no deadlines,” he said.
“Simply because if the deadline is not met, we know what happens, but what we do within the Office of Public Works and the department is we promise to put in as much power as possible, so with County Wexford Tip, we’ll see that work will start here as quickly as possible. “
He also said the Rosslare scheme is part of a 1 billion euro investment by the government in flood and coastal protection works across the country.
Wexford County Council Chairman Ger Carthy said the news is “momentous” for Rosslare and Wexford and that coastal protection work “has been in the melting pot for a long time,” awaiting approval.
I look forward to the start of the work and its design and planning phase ”.
Bill Kelly, owner of Kelly’s Resort Hotel, which overlooks Rosslare Strand beach, said erosion has been “a major concern” for years.
“The beach is disintegrating before our eyes in recent years,” he said.
“It is essential for us in the hotel business. We employ 220 people along the coast, right on the beach, without the beach we are nothing. We cannot continue to exist. It is vital. Today’s announcement is a great advantage for the area “.
When asked about the lack of a definitive start and end date for the project, Kelly said: “I imagine you have to go through the process and the planning process and I think the first thing is that the money is in place. and we can try to push the rest as quickly as possible. “
Wexford County Council Executive Director Tom Enright said it’s “a great day for Rosslare to see this project move forward,” as the area is one of the top tourist spots in the entire country.
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