asked the Minister for the Marine the present status of the application by the Dublin Port and Docks Board to reclaim further land in the bay; if he has decided whether there will be public hearings on this issue; and the date of the prospective hearings if they have been decided upon.
Written Answers. - Dublin Bay Development Plan.
126.
Dublin Port and Docks Board applied for a harbour works order to reclaim an area of 21 hectares at foreshore, east of the Sealink Freight Terminal, and to construct a 550 metre quay on the river side of the reclaimed area. No decision has been made on the matter.
127.
asked the Minister for the Marine whether he has considered the Dublin Port and Docks Board Development Plan; whether he believes that such a plan should be open to public objection in the same way as the local authority draft development plans, in order that the wider community and amenity objectives could be served in proper balance with the commercial objectives of the port operator; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Dublin Port Five Year Development Plan leading to 1993 and beyond, raises issues such as capital development proposals and a harbour works order proposal which require evaluation in my Department.
My Department has raised a number of questions in the context of the development plan including the need for the areas the subject of all the harbour works orders granted or under consideration, including the present one relating to an application to reclaim an area of 21 hectares east of the Sealink Ferry Terminal on which no decision has been made.
Harbour authorities are not required under existing legislation to prepare development plans.