'I'm not going to leave here without getting an agreement' - Minister Kevin Moran

On Inver Beach on a cold February afternoon, Minister of State Kevin Boxer Moran met with OPW and council officials, public representatives and homeowners. 

The purpose was to bring to a conclusion a long running stand-off between home owners and council officials regarding urgent erosion works on the seafront. In a heated debate, homeowners Joe Shallow and Eunan Ward welcomed the outcome which allayed concerns that, should they contribute 10% of the costs, they would be liable in the event of an accident. 

The original rock armour built almost 50 years ago by Donegal County Council has a path on top which is used widely by the public, Mr Shallow and Mr Ward explained. Hence, the fears that someone using the path could sustain an injury and make a claim against the homeowners if they contributed financially to the work. 

Minister Moran, who is Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation told those gathered: “I'm not going to leave here without getting an agreement.”Donegal County Council’s Director of Roads and Transportation Bryan Cannon outlined that €45,000 had been allocated from the Office of Public Works (OPW).

“That is 90% of the projected cost,” he said. 

When Minister Moran asked what was the hold-up, Mr Cannon said: “There is Joe's side and associated family members and then Eunan's side. And in order for the work to proceed, we want them to sign a form that says that we can carry out the work on their behalf and that they'll contribute 10% towards the costs. Why is there a contribution? Because it's protecting their property. It's a private property.”

However, the homeowners, as previously indicated on numerous occasions, pointed out that the rock armour wall and path were built by Donegal County Council and full responsibility to repair and maintain it therefore lay with the local authority - as did public liability. 

“The problem is we're donating to a wall, a public path,” said Mr Shallow. “You’re making us responsible. Only a judge can tell us we are not liable.

“I work for the Department of the Marine and I know how many claims are made every year.”

Mr Shallow drew attention to the fact that the workers who built the original wall had put their names in the concrete, and surviving members of the team had confirmed that they carried out the work for Donegal County Council. However, the local authority says that because the wall is protecting private property and not a public roadway, it is not their responsibility to maintain and repair the structure. 

Mr Cannon told the homeowners gathered on the beach: “We want to do the work. We've made the offer to yourselves. We want to get it done, but you need to contribute.”

Minister Moran said he had never seen work being carried out where such a percentage was sought.

The homeowners pointed out another section of rock armour that the council had built further along the curved shoreline.

This, Mr Ward explained, had in turn exacerbated the problem due to the water being redirected in front of their homes. 

There are now gaping holes in the rock armour, as well as a drop in the level of the beach, meaning that the sea washes under the original rock armour wall and undermines the integrity of the structure. 

The homeowners also pointed out that in 2020, €18,000 was granted to Donegal County Council to carry out the work but the local authority would not take on the project. Costs have since risen, and in April 2025, funding of €45,000 was made available, along with assurances that work would go ahead. This was very much welcomed - until the homeowners received correspondence asking for the controversial 10% contribution. They stressed that the issue was not a financial one, but, as previously outlined, concerns that the contribution would make them liable for people using the path. 

Having heard all sides of the debate, Minister Moran said: “I've got to be honest now, I'm not going to put it on the people to cough up the money, because I'm dealing with coastal erosion in different parts of the country, and if the erosion here gets any worse, and these houses fall into the sea, we've a bigger problem.

“So I think it's only practical that if it's €4,500, we find it and we do it. We won't be found wanting if support is needed.”

He added: “I'm not going to leave here without getting an agreement. This work has been funded. The money is there. We need to draw it down and do the work. End of story."

Officials agreed that the remaining 10% of the cost could be sourced through correct channels. The homeowners agreed to sign up for the work to be carried out on condition that it was clear that they were absolved from public liability. 

Mr Ward and Mr Shallow thanked Minister Moran and those who had attended the meeting, including Senator Manus Boyle (FG) and Cllr Jimmy Brogan (Ind), who they said had championed their cause for a number of years, as well as Cllr Michael Boyle (FG), Cllr Micheál Naughton (FF), Cllr Noel Jordan (SF), as well as OPW and Donegal County Council representatives.