Vol. 460 No. 3
624 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for the Marine when he expects to announce a decision on the application from Drogheda Harbour Commissioner, County Louth, to identify a dredged spoil dump site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1274/96]
Under the Dumping at Sea Act, 1981 the Minister may grant or refuse to grant a permit authorising dumping at sea operations. The procedure is that an applicant requests permission to dump at sea giving details of the proposed disposal site; the quantity and constituents of the material to be dumped; the dumping vessel; and why no suitable land-based alternatives exist.
Each application is examined by the Department's marine licence vetting committee which is composed of a chemist, biologists and an oceanographer from the Marine Institute, a marine surveyor and an engineer from this Department and a biologist from the Central Fisheries Board. Each application is examined to ensure that the disposal site is acceptable from a fisheries and navigational point of view; the quantity and constituents of the waste are such that they will cause no harm in the marine environment; there are no suitable land-based alternatives; and the vessel to be used in disposal of the waste is properly licensed and certified.
The Oslo Commission guidelines for the management of dredged material are taken into consideration in the disposal of dredge spoil. The Minister may require surveys of both the waste and the dump site to be undertaken at the expense of the prospective dumper. If the proposed site is unsuitable for any reason alternative sites are investigated, and if the material itself is found to be unsuitable for dumping at sea, the application is refused.
Drogheda Harbour Commissioners have applied to the Department to dispose of dredge spoil which will result from capital dredging works in Drogheda Harbour. As there are extensive fishing grounds in the vicinity of Drogheda Harbour, problems have arisen in identifying a suitable dump site. Officials from the Department have been actively seeking a site which will not impact on fisheries. The investigation is at an advanced stage and it is expected that a site will be identified within the next two weeks.
