Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 4

Written Answers. - Port Development.

Noel Ahern

Question:

84 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the current position with the application from Dublin Port Company Limited to reclaim 52 acres of Dublin Bay; the various consultative or investigative processes which must be entered into before a decision is reached; if an environmental impact study is necessary; the processes which must be carried out by the Dublin Port Company and by the Minister's Department; the stages at which members of the public can make an input; the length of time the full process will take; the current stage of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28835/00]

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

I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 41 of 23 November 2000 regarding this matter.

An environmental impact statement was presented to my Department along with the application to reclaim 21 hectares of Dublin Bay in July 1998. The EIS was examined by independent consultants who reported that it did not meet statutory requirements. In March this year, my Department informed Dublin Port Company that a full new EIS would have to be prepared to allow the application to be considered.

I am aware that the Dublin Port Company intends to submit a new EIS. However, the timing of the publication of a new EIS is entirely within the remit of the company. The application will not be processed further until such time as a new EIS is received.

In accordance with legislation there will be a one month public consultation period from the time of commencement of the public consultation process, that is the date of publication of a newspaper notice of the availability of the EIS to the public for examination.

The company will have an opportunity to comment on any objections made to the proposals and the matter will be considered, as will objections and responses to them, by the technical, scientific and administrative staff available to me. When they have completed their deliberations they will make a recommendation to me and I will make a decision on the matter.

There is no statutory time period within which the process must be completed but I would be most surprised if the process took less than six months to complete.