asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware of the concern among residents of Clontarf Road, Dublin, at the probable reduction in the values of their houses as a result of the Dublin port development plans; and what plans he has to preserve the amenities and environmental assets of the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Port Development.
19.
I am aware that longterm outline plans or proposals for reclamation and development in the Dublin port area have been published by the Dublin Port and Docks Board. As regards the status of these I would refer the Deputy to the reply given to his question on this subject by the Minister for Transport and Power.
The duty to plan the physical future of Dublin is vested by law in Dublin Corporation and the Corporation's policies and development objectives will be set out in the revised draft development plan which the City Council are expected to adopt in the near future. Once adopted, the draft plan will be put on public display and it will be open to the public to make representations or objections in regard to it. As far as the Clontarf area is concerned, I am informed that it is not the intention of the Corporation to provide in the draft development plan for any reclamation in the Clontarf area other than that authorised under the Harbour Works Order, 1967, made by the Minister for Transport and Power. The area authorised to be reclaimed under this order consists of an area on the north side of the estuary of the Tolka approximately 300 yards in width and extending from the railway embankment at East Wall to a point north of the oil storage installation of Munster Simms and Co. (Dublin) Ltd., at Alexandra Road. At its nearest point, this area would be 400 yards from the seafront at Clontarf. The draft plan will indicate the uses which the Corporation intend to permit on this reclaimed area. I understand that it is proposed to provide for the reservation of an amenity belt of open space on the northern edge of the area facing the Clontarf foreshore. This would be planted so as to provide a screen between the part of the land in which port uses may be permitted and the residential area of Clontarf.
As the Minister with overall responsibility for physical planning, I am concerned to ensure that any development that is undertaken in the Dublin port area will take full account of the extremely important amenity values of Dublin Bay, as well as the other important planning considerations involved.