Vol. 492 No. 4
105 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that the terms of the original period for the dredging operation at Malahide Marina have been complied with; and the number of occasions an authorised officer has been on board the vessels during the dumping operation, particularly during the hours of darkness. [14352/98]
106 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if there is a current licence for the dredging operation at Malahide Marina; and the steps, if any, which can be taken to eliminate the concerns being expressed by a number of residents regarding the noise from the dredgers during the hours of darkness. [14353/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together.
Malahide Marina Village Limited holds a foreshore lease and a dumping at sea permit for the dredging operation at Malahide Marina. The original period for the dredging operation has been extended on a number of occasions, but I should point out that the extent of the work is unchanged from that originally approved by my Department. I understand that delays occurred due to mechanical difficulties and adverse weather conditions.
With regard to the monitoring of the dumping operations, an authorised officer has not been on board the vessels used in dumping operations. However, one of the conditions of dumping at sea permit specifies that the dumping vessels, which require certification by the Marine Survey Office of my Department, should have Marine Position Recorders (MPRs) on board. These devices record the precise location of the vessels at all times. The output from the devices is monitored by my Department and, on a number of occasions, this method of monitoring was supported by spot checks from land based observers.
Any complaints about noise from the vessels while in the Malahide Estuary should be brought directly to the attention of Malahide Marina Village Limited in the first instance. If necessary, future dumping at sea permits could rule out operations during unsociable hours.
