Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - Land Reclamation.

Ivor Callely

Question:

139 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has granted any foreshore licences for the reclamation of sea and amenity areas in order for such areas to be commercially developed over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21287/00]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey):

I draw the Deputy's attention to section 20 of the Foreshore Act, 1933, which requires me to lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas annually a statement detailing all leases and licences granted under the Act in the previous financial year. The statement for the financial year ending on 31 December 1999 was presented to both Houses of the Oireachtas on 16 February 2000 [PN 8230] and is available in the Oireachtas Library along with previous such statements.

Such statements include the particulars, terms and date of each lease or licence granted. The name of the licensee or lessee and fees charged are also recorded. While these statements may not contain sufficient detail to answer the Deputy's question, given the broad scope of the inquiry if the Deputy were to contact the coastal zone administration division of my Department with a more specific request more detailed information could be provided.

It should be noted that all applicants for foreshore leases or licences are required to publish notice of their proposals in newspapers circulating in the area. The Department prepares the notice and specifies the newspapers in which it should be published. A three week period is allowed for representations and objections to be made to me. The applicant is allowed an opportunity to comment on these before the final report is made to me. That report will detail the proposal, the process that has been gone through, objections and commentary on them, and recommend whether to grant a lease or licence and, if so, under what conditions.

Certain developments are subject to the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1989 to 1999. An application for any development above the relevant threshold in the regulations must include an environmental impact statement, EIS. Applicants are encouraged to seek the Department's opinion at the scoping stage of the EIS. An appraisal of the environmental effects of a development below the threshold must be submitted by the applicant to allow me to decide whether it is likely to have significant effects on the environment. Where the decision is "yes" an EIS is mandatory. The public consultation period for an application requiring an EIS is one month and a copy of the EIS must also be provided by the applicant for the consultative bodies named in the Foreshore (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1990 [S.I. No. 220 of 1990].

Ivor Callely

Question:

140 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the basis on which Dublin Port Company was refused permission to reclaim 21 hectares in Dublin Bay in 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21288/00]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey):

It is not possible in the time available to trace back the records of 12 years ago in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy concerning foreshore permission applications under the Foreshore Acts or harbour works orders under the Harbours Acts.

I have asked my Department to respond as quickly as possible to the Deputy with the requested information.