City council details sea wall actions

DUBLIN City Council has set out a list of actions it intends to take to resolve the sea wall dispute on the coast road at St Anne’s.

The wall, which is being built as part of the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) project, has been mired in controversy in recent weeks.

Following a special city council meeting last month, the local authority has established an Environmental Monitoring and Liaison Committee.

The city council has written to Birdwatch Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Office of Public Works (OPW) inviting them to join the committee.  

Representation on the committee for the local community will be increased to three nominees. Formal letters of invitation have been issued to Clontarf Residents’ Association, Clontarf Business Association and Raheny Residents’ Association.

Cllr Ciaran O’Moore (SF) has been nominated by the North Central Area Committee to represent Dublin City Council. 

An independent chairperson is being appointed and it is hoped that the first meeting will be held this month.

A spokesman for Dublin City Council said: “In trying to source an independent expert to assess the appropriateness of the design height of the wall, we are somewhat constrained in that a large number of independent experts have already been involved in this project and studies relating to it. Therefore, a shortlist of five remaining candidates on the island of Ireland who have knowledge in this area has been assembled. 

“We are approaching the academic candidates to see their availability for what will require a significant amount of their time to re-evaluate all of the existing documentation and studies associated with the nine years to date of this project and carry out any further evaluations required.”

While construction of the wall is currently suspended, the city council said the contractor for the project is continuing to operate on site dealing with the water main installation and other ancillary works not related to the flood defence wall. 

“To date, the council is incurring some additional costs relating to changes to work schedules,” he added. 

“In the coming weeks it will be crucial that a situation is reached where the contractor is allowed to recommence work, subject to the findings of the independent expert, on the lower elements of the wall, to avoid exposing the council to substantial contractual claims.” 

Dublin Bay North TD Finian McGrath (Ind) said he welcomed the establishment of the Environmental and Monitoring Liaison Committee.  

 “The main issue here is quite simple: the visual amenity which has been damaged needs to be restored and preserved and there are a number of ways this can be achieved,” Deputy McGrath stated.  

“A multi-disciplinary approach to sea defences, as promised, will achieve adequate flood defences and protect this amenity. Our campaign will continue until this matter is resolved.”

Local community groups Clontarf Residents’ Association, Clontarf Business Association and Dublin Bay Watch said they acknowledged Dublin City Council’s commitment, “albeit belatedly”, to establishing the committee.  

“We call on Dublin City Council to use this committee as the mechanism for procuring the independent advice required to arrive at a solution which protects this sensitive coastline area adjacent to the UNESCO Biosphere, and preserves the established visual and environmental amenity of the Nature Reserve and Special Protection Area,” they said in a joint statement.