Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Michael Ring

Question:

460 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a proposed gas and discharge pipeline is to traverse Sruwaddacon Bay which is a special protection area, and the receiving gas and condensate terminal associated toxic runoff is to be located adjacent to the Carrowmore Lake special areas of conservation in County Mayo. [17150/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I am aware of the proposed Corrib natural gas field development project, including the gas reception and treatment facilities at Bellanaboy Bridge Terminal and the associated pipelines, etc.

The proposed Bellanaboy Bridge Terminal – gas reception and treatment facilities – at Bellagelly South, Pollatomish, Belmullet was the subject of a Planning Application – No. 00/2934 – to Mayo County Council on 17 November 2000. I understand the council requested further information in connection with this application from Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited on 12 January 2001. On 30 April 2001 the company submitted a new planning application – No. 01/900 – to the county council for the gas reception and treatment facilities at the proposed Bellanaboy Bridge Terminal. My Department is considering this application and a submission will be made to the county council in due course.

The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources consulted my Department about the application by the company for a foreshore licence in connection with the offshore aspects of the proposed development. As a result my Department made three submissions, between November 2000 and March 2001, to that Department on the impact of the proposed development on the built and natural heritage. The pipeline, as it approaches the shore, runs through Broadhaven Bay candidate special area of conservation – cSAC No. 472 – and thence through Glenamoy Bog Complex candidate special area of conservation – cSAC No. 500. Srawaddacon Bay, which is located within the former candidate special area of conservation, is also a special protection area. The environmental impact statement submitted for this proposal fails to note or mention the special protection area designation. While my Department is in general agreement with the preferred sea route of the proposed pipeline, it is important that impacts from the proposed development are kept to a minimum. In order to maintain the conservation value of the candidate special areas of conservation/special protection area, my Department recommended that the proposed development be subject to cer tain conditions. With regard to the location of the discharge outfall, my Department recommended that permission be refused to locate it within the Broadhaven Bay candidate special area of conservation and that an alternative acceptable location be identified. I understand the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources has asked the company to submit a supplementary report which will address certain deficiencies in the documentation submitted in support of the foreshore licence application. My Department awaits receipt of the supplementary report and expects that it will address the concerns raised in its submissions to that Department.