Anti-erosion work cannot proceed because of EU rules

Works on measures to protect the Salthill to Silverstrand coastline and provide a coastal walkway have been further delayed because of the need for a habitat assessment that will take months to carry out.

Anger was expressed this week by councillors who had believed that the actual improvement works would be well underway by now.

Their anger was also tinged with fear that this week’s storm will have further eroded the already vulnerable coastline, especially around the cliffs near Silverstrand.

But apparently the assessment is mandatory under a European directive and has to be completed before the City Council can get a foreshore licence to carry out the actual improvement works.

Last June, the Council sought funding assistance from various Government departments and was waiting for a foreshore licence to be granted.

City Council Chief Executive, Brendan McGrath told a local authority meeting this week that there was no way around this. An application had been made for the foreshore licence and they had engaged in a pre-consultation process.

“We were of the view that the licence was imminent,” he said adding that the Department of the Environment had now decided that the assessment was required under an EU Habitat Directive. That will take at least five months and adds further cost to the project.

“It is out of our hands and we are as disappointed as you (councillors) are as it is a retrograde step and it’s a pity it wasn’t signalled sooner.”

For more on the EU red tape, see this week’s Galway City Tribune