Are We Planning for Sea Level Rise in Ireland? A Case Study of Counties Mayo, Galway, Sligo and Donegal.

Sea level rise (SLR) caused by climate change poses major challenges on a global, national, regional and local level. This paper examines the phenomenon of SLR and considers its likely impacts on the coastline and adjacent marine areas in the Republic of Ireland. As significant impacts are regarded as probable, an analysis is undertaken of the legislative support and the guidance available for dealing with the effects of SLR. Using the case studies of counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal in the west and north west of Ireland, all of which have been identified as being vulnerable to the effects of Climate Change and SLR, this paper reviews the forward planning polices at national, regional and local level and considers the regional and local perspectives of professional planning staff to SLR. The paper demonstrates that while guidance exists, regional and local authorities adopt divergent approaches to planning for SLR and that these approaches could be improved by providing a national policy framework on coastal and marine areas, improved guidance, data collection of SLR at regional and local level and placing a greater emphasis on planning for SLR at all levels of government.