asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the present position of the proposals to develop Dublin Bay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Bay Development.
15.
In accordance with their 1978 revised five year development plan Dublin Port and Docks Board propose to carry out within the next five years development consisting of reclamation of about 24 hectares of land and provision of quays, berths and roll-on/roll-off ramps in the vicinity of the British Rail and B & I terminals on the north side of the Liffey. Reclamation of 1.55 hectares for provision of additional cargo handling accommodation near the Bristol Seaway Terminal in the Ringsend area is also proposed. These works have already been authorised by harbour works orders.
An application has been made by the board for a harbour works order to authorise reclamation of an area of 8.3 hectares south of the ESB station at Poolbeg for ash disposal and an area of 2.9 hectares to the west of Poolbeg station for cargo handling purposes. Consideration of this application has been deferred pending the outcome of the public inquiry into the special amenity area order for Dublin Bay made by Dublin Corporation.
I am awaiting revised proposals from the board in relation to the application for a harbour works order to authorise construction of a bridge and approach road over the Liffey between East Wall Road and Ringsend. The application for a harbour works order for construction of a slipway and reclamation of 0.9 hectare at the North Bull Wall has been deferred by agreement with the board.
Has the Minister requested the Port and Docks Board to provide on their own account and at their own expense an environmental impact statement related to this development proposal of theirs in advance of any consideration which the hearing on the amenity order for Dublin Bay may produce?
Would the Deputy put that Question down?
Is the Minister unable to answer that simple question with a straightforward yes or no?
The Minister will answer any questions that are asked if they relate to the question on the Order Paper.
It will be a long time before the Minister is back in the House in the role of Minister for Tourism and Transport. With the permission of the Chair, I ask the Minister if he is in a position to say yes or no to the relatively simple question. Will he request the Port and Docks Board, in accordance with guidelines established by his colleague, the Minister for the Environment, to produce such an environmental impact statement so that the public at large will have some idea of the likely impact of the development plan proposals which are now on his desk?
It would appear that quite a number of people in the area have a good knowledge of what is likely to happen.
As someone who lives within 50 metres of the Port and Docks Board's territory, I am asking the question because few people know what is happening in the area. With respect to his seniority in the House, I believe that the Minister's reply does not dignify his position. If the Minister has the information he should give an answer. If he does not have the information he should carry out what I believe is a responsible request from an Opposition Deputy to seek such an impact statement from a wealthy Port and Docks Board.
I have been noted for my courtesy in replying to questions in this House.
If the Minister's eyesight is as good as his decency, he can get the answer to Deputy Quinn's question by looking at the file in front of him.
That is not a question.
Is there any alarm in the Minister's Department or in Government circles in regard to the absolute chaos that has already been created in Dublin? What will it be like if these developments are taken in isolation, as they obviously have been, without regard to roads, access and the people who have to live in the city?
Consideration has been given to these matters in the development plan. I will look into the matter referred to by Deputy Quinn.
Is the bridge to which the Minister referred a toll bridge and does he propose to introduce legislation at an early date to facilitate the erection of such bridges and roads?
It is not a question for me. I understand that the board are revising their application in relation to this matter.