Vol. 568 No. 2
68 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in relation to the proposal to site a wind farm on the Tunnes Plateau in Lough Foyle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15854/03]
108 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position with regard to the proposed wind farm at the Tunes Plateau, near the mouth of the Foyle Estuary, recently given permission by the Crown Estate of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15905/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 108 together.
As Deputies will be aware from my replies to previous questions on this matter, an assessment of the feasibility of developing an offshore wind farm in the Tunes Plateau area, off the mouth of Lough Foyle, is being carried out.
This assessment is being undertaken by a consortium comprised of Renewable Energy Systems, B9 Offshore Energy and Powergen. I understand it is at an advanced stage and is scheduled to be completed within the next few months. I am advised also that the consortium is preparing an environmental impact statement in respect of the possible development of a wind farm, taking account of the feasibility assessment and other studies they have undertaken.
My Department became aware last year that the feasibility assessment was under way, and examined the situation in detail in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General. Following this examination, the consortium, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and the Crown Estates Commission, were notified that the development of a wind farm at the location in question may only be carried out in accordance with the terms of a foreshore lease granted under the Foreshore Acts 1933 to 1998.
It will be a matter for the consortium to determine, taking account of the results of the studies and investigations they have undertaken, whether they wish to proceed with applications for the necessary statutory consents for the project.
Any application that the consortium may make for authorisation for the development of a wind farm would have to be accompanied by a comprehensive environmental impact statement addressing the likely environmental effects of the proposed development. Any such application would be considered in detail on its objective merits, and interested parties would have an opportunity to express their views on the proposals.
In the meantime, my Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the office of the Attorney General in addressing matters relating to the proposed development. Contacts with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom are ongoing.
I am interested in this matter given that I live in the Lough Foyle area. Since I have seen a computer generated model of the 85 x 30 storey turbines, each of which will be the size of the pyramids of Egypt, and will see them from my house I declare my interest. Is the Minister aware of the number of conservation groups and councils on a cross-party, cross-Border basis of all political shades from Gregory Campbell through to some of the Sinn Féin members who may be taking part in the gambit? Our car ferry has recently been started. The infrastructure at that point on an SAC at MacGilligan took years of studies to overcome just putting a couple of bits of cement on either side of the Foyle. We now have a possibility of 85 x 30 storey turbines being located there. What voice do we have versus £250 million sterling worth of big business coming in looking for green credits for polluter pay sorting out in some other region, as I understand this is really what it is about? What rights do we have as the people in the area, who have had a salmon fishery of 40,000 a short time ago. We have a real salmon fishery and we have plans to develop an even better salmon fishery in the Foyle plus other marine issues.
I remind the Deputy of the one minute time limit for supplementary questions.
Are we going to ignore the economic area of the north west which has suffered so much under the textile decline and allow someone who will give us no benefit to come in and ruin what we have?
Are there any business interests in the Irish Republic involved in this consortium that got planning permission from the Crown Estate? Have there ever been similar cases along the Border and boundary waters between Northern Ireland and the Republic and Britain and Ireland where the Crown Estate would have acted unilaterally without consulting our Government?
I am aware Deputy Keaveney and other Deputies have been active on this issue for some time. The Government and the Departments have been very pro-active also. Once the feasibility study became known to the Department, it was examined by this Department in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the office of the Attorney General. It was decided that no development could take place unless the project was authorised by way of a foreshore lease under the Foreshore Acts and the consortium was advised accordingly. We are also aware of the interest shown by local groups and persons in the north west who have expressed much concern about the salmon area, coastal erosion implications, visual impact and the effects on fisheries and navigation. All these issues will have to be addressed in the EIS being prepared by the consortium. Any application for foreshore approval for the development of a wind farm will be subject to rigorous scrutiny by the marine licensing vetting committee which comprises technical experts from a range of relevant disciplines. There would also be an opportunity for interested persons and bodies to examine the proposal. My Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General have been working in unison on this issue.
In regard to the question from Deputy Broughan, I will have to get the answer for the Deputy. I am not sure if anyone from this side of the jurisdiction is involved.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
