Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 1

Written Answers. - Foreshore Act Licence.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

285 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Marine if his Department has received an application for a licence under the Foreshore Act to enable Waterford County Council to carry out works, including the laying of a pipeline and the siting of an outfall pipe to discharge sewage into Rinnashark Channel at Tramore, County Waterford; if, in view of the strong local opposition to this plan, he will reject the application for the licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

Waterford County Council has recently applied to the Department for a licence under the Foreshore Act, 1933, to lay an outfall pipe on an area of foreshore at Rinnashark Harbour as part of the sewage treatment plant which will treat sewage from Tramore to secondary standard.

Notice of the application will be published in the local press shortly which will afford all interested parties an opportunity of making objections and representations to the Department of the Marine. The application will be thoroughly assessed by the Department from all relevant perspectives including the environmental ecological and fishery implications of the proposal. All objections received will be rigorously evaluated as part of that assessment process.

My decision in the matter will be taken in light of the outcome of the consultative and assessment processes when these are fully completed.