§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many miles of(a) sea defences and (b) coast protection works there are in Northern Ireland; where each is situated; who is responsible for them; and what is the residual life of each.
Road Location Length (miles) Approximate residual life (years) A2 Warrenpoint 1.55 20 A2 Drumesk Road, Rostrevor 0.12 20 A2 Rostrevor Quay 0.12 20 U6573 Harbour Road, Kilkeel 0.06 20 G316 Benagh Road, Kilkeel 0.06 20 C317 Benagh Road, Kilkeel 0.19 20 A2 Islandmagee 4.35 20 A2 Lame—Garron Point 15.50 20 B202 Point Road, Magilligan 1.25 10 A2 Garron Road, Waterfoot 6.00 3 A2 Coast Road, Waterfoot 0.75 3 B92 Main Street, Cushendum 0.10 10 B92 Bay Road, Cushendun 0.50 0 B15 Whitepark Road, Ballintoy 0.25 1 U88 Murlough Road, Ballycastle 0.75 0 U83 Carrickmore Road, Ballycastle 2.50 3 U26 Giants Causeway Road, Bushmills 0.50 0 U5I13 Dunseverick, Bushmills 0.50 5 U5I15 Harbour Road, Ballintoy 0.30 3 U5114 Portbraden Road, Bushmills 0.10 5 U5224 Dalriada Park, Cushendall 0.25 3 A2 Quay Route (Craigavon Bridge/Guildhall) 0.50 25 A2 Quay Route (Craigavon Bridge/Boating Club Lane) 0.50 25 U1119 Point Road, Culmore 0.75 10 U1515 Bay Road, Panneburn 0.50 25 U3557 Beach Road, Portballintrae 0.10 10 A2 Portstewart Promenade 0.40 20 U3533 Strand Head, Portstewart 0.10 10 A20 Newtownards to Greyabbey A20 Kircubbin U301 Portaferry 11.20 20 A2 Donaghadee/Millisle/Ballywalter/Ballyhalbert/Cloughy A2 Holywood 0.93 20 A2 Killough 5.90 20 A2 South of Strangford U240 Ballyhornan Northern Ireland Railways carries out running repair sea defence work on the following lines:
Location Length (miles) Approximate residual life (years) Lame line 8.00 20 Londonderry line (along Foyle Estuary) 10.00 20 Bangor line at Holywood 0.25 20 The Department of Agricultural has statutory powers under the Drainage (NI) Order 1973 to maintain sea defences which have been designated by the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland The locations and the lengths of designated sea defences are:
400W
Miles North Down Newtownards/Comber Dyke 3.0 Holywood 0.2 North Londonderry Myroe Embankment 3.0
§ Mr. AtkinsRoads service of the Department of the Environment carries out work to deal with coastal erosion at the following locations where the structural stability of the road is threatened:
Miles Ballykelly Embankment 2.0 Longfield Embankment 3.8 Black Brae Embankment 2.0 It is not possible to determine accurately the residual life of each designated sea defence as this depends on future weather and tidal combinations as well as the condition of the defence.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what surveys have been carried out funded by his Department on coastal erosion in Northern Ireland in recent years; and where the conclusions were published.
§ Mr. AtkinsTwo studies have been carried out by Professor R. W. G. Carter and funded by the environment service of the Department of the Environment.
- (i) "Coastal Erosion and Management in Antrim Coast and Glens and Causeway Coast AONBs" published by HMSO Belfast in early 1991 as "Shifting Sands"; and
401 - (ii) "Monitoring Sand Removal in Antrim Coast and Glens and Causeway Coast AONBs". The findings of this survey were published in "Aquatic Conservation" Vol 2 in 1992.
In addition the Department of Agriculture has agreed to make a contribution towards a feasibilty study which was commissioned by Coleraine borough council into coastal erosion problems at Portballintrae. The study report has just been completed and its publication is now a matter for Coleraine borough council.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve(a) sea defences and (b) coastal protection in Northern Ireland in each of the next three years.
§ Mr. AtkinsSubject to the availability of finance, the roads service of the Department of the Environment proposes to spend approximately £21,000 and £50,000 in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 financial years respectively to improve existing coastal protection measures in the Coleraine and Ballycastle areas. The Department of Agriculture has plans to commence works in 1993 to refurbish the Myroe embankment at Lough Foyle. Following a recent preliminary inspection of the other three Lough Foyle embankments, the Department is about to commission more detailed feasibilty studies on the Ballykelly and Longfield embankments. A study of the Black Brae embankment will also be initiated within the next three years.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums were expended by Government on(a) sea defences and (b) coastal protection works in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how much in each year was expended on (a) capital works, (b) repairs and (c) maintenance.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe information is as follows:
Financial year 1Roads service Department of the Environment 2Northern Ireland railways 3Department of Agriculture £'000 £'000 £'000 1987–88 146 2 40 1988–89 291 137 109 1989–90 93 15 164 1990–91 251 21 223 1991–92 202 99 332 1 Expenditure on repairs and maintenance to protect coasts where structural stability of a road was threatened—no capital expenditure incurred. 2 Mostly capital expenditure on running repairs. 3 Expenditure on maintenance and repairs of designated sea defences. In addition the environment service, Department of the Environment has paid out the following amounts in grant-aid towards local anti-erosion schemes carried out by agencies:
Agency and financial year Amount £'000 1987–88 0 Ballycastle Golf Club 1988–89 7 1989–90 15 North Down Borough Council 1990–91 16 1991–92 11