Wexford local authority urged to partner with EPA to tackle county’s climate crisis

As Wexford continues to bear the brunt of extreme weather events one councillor has suggested teaming up with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to counteract issues such as coastal erosion and flooding. Councillor Jim Moore, who has witnessed the devastation at Seaview in Kilmore after repeated storms, called upon the council to utilise the expertise and knowledge of those at the EPA via one of its new research projects.

“The EPA last week issued a call for research projects under the heading of Climate Action with a number of themes, for example ‘implementing the effective protection and restoration solutions’ and ‘understanding risk and adaptation measures at local level’,” said Cllr Moore. “Those two seem entirely appropriate for the challenges we have. With the difficulty we have in getting national attention this is an issue Wexford County Council should take a lead on, start putting in place some sort of structure to allow this coastal management plan to develop and offer support to our communities along the coastlines.

“At the moment those people are completely frustrated and nervous about what’s happening.”

Confirming that WCC was “happy to look at the research project”, Director of Services Carolyn Godkin said the council had also been playing a part in the inter-departmental coastal strategy management plan.

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