Billy Kelly and Cllr Lisa McDonald at the back of Kelly’s Resort Hotel where the erosion is evident. Photo: Jim Campbell
“After my discussions with Minister Boxer Moran over the last number of weeks, a tranche of money to the tune of €600,000 Is being made available by the OPW for emergency works at Rosslare,” said Housing Minister and Wexford TD James Browne. “I understand that the next step now is that Wexford County Council (WCC) will make the application for that funding and proceed as soon as possible to get interventions under way.”
Recognising the efforts of his Fianna Fáil colleague Councillor Lisa McDonald, Minister Browne said these works will be followed by a larger scale project upon completion.
“I have put on huge pressure, along with Cllr McDonald, to get this emergency works funding so that we can make immediate interventions at this stage, while we seek longer term investment with regards to further long term protection of the area.”
Welcoming the works, Cllr McDonald, who has been working alongide hotel owner Bill Kelly to raise awareness of the erosion issues in Rosslare Strand, said she was “delighted” that funding had been secured and that it was “great result” for both the hotel and the wider community. However, she reiterated the need for the larger Rosslare Strand Coastal Erosion and Flood Relief Scheme to be prioritised by the OPW.
Currently in the planning stage, that multi-million Euro project will protect properties at risk of erosion in Rosslare Strand and implement a long-term strategy for tidal flood measures. It is not expected to be fully completed until 2030.
Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran is the minister with responsibility for the OPW and he said he is in constant communication with Wexford County Council (WCC) regarding these issues.
“My team met with the council again in the last few days to discuss the emergency on the coast at Kelly’s Hotel. We have asked the council to fast-forward a minor works scheme that we will fund in the near future. This will happen imminently. The application will be back into my Department and we will rescue the area of the beach in question.
“I know the level of vulnerability, I know what is at stake in terms of the hotel and I know the suffering that people are enduring but I can assure (you) that in the next few weeks we will see action on the ground.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.