This article is from page 34 of the 2006-01-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
COUNCILLORS have called for more money to be spent on saving parts of the Clare coastline from disappearing into the sea.
The calls came after County Engineer, Tom Carey said that he was satisfied that Clare is getting its fair share of the national fund for preventing coastal erosion.
Answering a query from Cllr Martin Lafferty on what anti-erosion work has been done, Mr Carey said that “coastal protection work was carried out in 2005 at two locations in Clare, namely, Ross and Carrigaholt. This cost €190,000, of which €145,000 is being recouped from the Department of the Marine.
“The amount of funding being provided nationally for Coastal Protection Works is very small and in the context of the amount provided centrally, I am satisfied that Clare gets its fair share.”
Cllr Lafferty said he was not happy with the reply.
“The coastline is disappearing before our eyes but if we have the county engineer saying we are getting our fair share of money to prevent this, then that does not help our chances of getting more,” the councillor said.
But Mr Carey pointed out that the council has “a plan submitted to the Department of the Marine and a request for funding for both 2006 and 2007 at a number of locations in the county.”