AQW 1906/17-22

Mr John Dallat
Social Democratic and Labour Party
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 11/02/2020
Answered On Date: 26/02/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what investment has been made to address coastal erosion in the (i) Causeway Coast; and (ii) Foyle Estuary, in the last three years.

Answer:

Responsibility for investment in measures to address coastal erosion is currently informed by the ‘Bateman Formula’ of 1967 and therefore my Department has not provided any specific funding in these areas within the last three years.

However, it is widely accepted that the ‘Bateman Formula’ is no longer appropriate and my Department is working collaboratively with the Department for Infrastructure to address this and provided £30,643 towards a baseline study and gap analysis of coastal erosion risk management in Northern Ireland. My Department has also secured £104,000 from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to gather further information on the state of coastal change and to assist in the establishment of a Coastal Change Assessment Partnership similar to those established in GB, but tailored to the specific needs of Northern Ireland.

This investment is improving the evidence base on which future policy relating to coastal erosion risk management can be developed, and should benefit all areas along the Northern Ireland coast that are at risk to coastal erosion.