Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Jun 1993

Vol. 431 No. 7

Written Answers - County Galway Foreshore Licence Application.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

65 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Marine if a foreshore licence under the Foreshore Act, 1933, has been granted to a company (details supplied) over an area of the foreshore in Barnaderg Bay, Ballinakill Harbour, County Galway; and, if so, the date the licence was issued to this company.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

An application for a foreshore lease to develop a car park facility at the location in question was received in January 1992.

The application was at that time fully assessed by the engineering branch of the Department of the Marine and there was no objection to the proposal on technical grounds. The Department also sought the advice of Bord Fáilte which, in March 1992, indicated that they had no objection on amenity grounds.

Following these assessments the company involved, on the direction of the Department of the Marine under the Foreshore Act, 1993, published notice of the proposal in two local newspapers (Connacht Tribune on 3 April 1992 and Connacht Sentinel on 14 April 1992). No objection was received in response to these advertisements or otherwise until recent weeks. In the meantime Galway County Council gave notice of its decision to grant planning permission on 30 June 1992 and confirmed its decision on 4 August 1992.

A formal offer of a lease was made to the company on 8 March 1993 and following negotiations on the terms of the lease the company formally accepted it on 1 June 1993.

It came to notice early in May that work had commenced on the site in advance of the finalisation of the lease. The applicant was advised that no authority to commence work on the site had been granted and that all works should cease pending finalisation of the lease. Galway County Council issued a warning notice under the Planning Acts on 25 May requiring that the development be discontinued forthwith.

While it remains the intention to grant a lease as originally offered and accepted, the formalities will not be finalised until I am satisfied that the works will be in accordance with plans and drawings approved by me and that the Local Authority requirements will be satisfied.