Vol. 551 No. 2
68 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress made to date regarding the establishment of the long promised coastal zone management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9913/02]
As I have previously advised the House, my Department has general responsibility for the regulation and management of the marine coastal zone including foreshore and aquaculture licensing and dumping at sea permits. These functions are currently exercised by the Department's coastal zone administration division. In addition, my Department is responsible for funding the national coastal protection programme in conjunction with the coastal local authorities. An internal review of the Department's public resource-coastal zone licensing planning and regulatory functions is currently under way. In tandem with, and informed by, this review, my Department will be taking forward, in conjunction with other relevant Departments, the development of an integrated coastal zone management strategy. The key objective of the strategy is the development of new models to address interactions between sectors, agencies and legal frameworks which will deliver a more integrated strategic approach to coastal zone management.
