Minister ‘willing to support’ Wexford farmers at risk of losing their land to coastal erosion — ‘he didn’t think it was as bad until he saw it first-hand’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

While he was primarily visiting Wexford to announce funding for coastal protection schemes in Rosslare Strand and Kilpatrick Beach, Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran fulfilled a long-held promise prior to his two main engagements.

Having repeatedly been told about the severity of the coastal erosion at Ballyhealy in the south of the county, the Minister for the Office of Public Works (OPW) accompanied local councillors Ger Carthy and Frank Staples to witness first-hand the scale of the issues there.

During his visit Minister Moran was shown the impact erosion has had on the home of Willie Pierce and on the farmlands and homes of the Fortune family. Both Mr Pierce and the Fortunes have spent money of their own on temporary protection works as heavy storms and high tides erode up to five metres in the area on an annual basis.

Meanwhile, at neighbouring Seaview, over €2m in funding has been allocated to safeguard homeowners there.

Following the meeting, Cllr Carthy expressed his belief that Minister Moran now fully appreciated the severity of the problems in Ballyhealy and would react accordingly.

“He didn’t think it was as bad until he saw it first-hand, he’s hoping to do some emergency works there,” said Cllr Carthy.

Those emergency works would see coastal protection measures in Ballyhealy linked to the existing rock armour in Seaview and, most importantly, at the homes of Mr Pierce and the Fortunes.

“It’s a welcome move,” said Cllr Carthy. “Minister Moran is a solution-based minister, he came down, saw the situation, and he’s willing to support the people here through emergency works via the OPW.

“The Ballyhealy situation has been worsening for the past 15 years, the maps show the vulnerable areas and from Ballyhealy to Nemestown is high risk.”

Estimating that the Fortunes have spent over €100,000 to ensure the water doesn’t break onto their land, which is below sea level, Cllr Staples said this was a uniquely dangerous situation which needs to be rectified swiftly.

“If the water gets in there it can’t get out,” he said. “But I was delighted with Minister Moran, he’s a man of action.”

“It was a good day’s work,” agreed Cllr Carthy. “It wasn’t just that day, though, myself and Cllr Staples have been working on this for over a decade.”