I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 78 together. In September 1984, the Minister of State at my Department requested the three Dublin local authorities to co-operate in the preparation of a water quality management plan for Dublin Bay, and statements in regard to the matter were subsequently made by me and by the Minister of State in Dáil Éireann and elsewhere. The members of all three local authorities have since approved of proposals that An Foras Forbartha be requested to undertake the studies required for the preparation of such a plan for the bay and the tidal section of the River Liffey, and that the Eastern Regional Development Organisation would commission An Foras to carry out the work and provide the necessary co-ordination of the project.
A steering committee is to define the parameters of the study, draft terms of reference and generally oversee the work as it proceeds. The committee is composed of representatives of the three local authorities and the Department of the Environment, while independent professionals in the environmental field have also been invited to join the committee. There will be scope for other organisations to make an input in the preparation of the plan; it will be a matter for the steering committee to decide when submissions should be invited. When a draft is available, it will be put on public display for at least three months so that representations can be made and considered by the local authorities before formally adopting the plan.
