Vol. 566 No. 4
266 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which the Broadmeadow Estuary, Malahide, is protected in law; and the extent to which that law will be broken if it is partially reclaimed for the purpose of building a carpark at Bissetts Strand, Malahide. [13194/03]
The Broadmeadow Estuary and Malahide Estuary is a special protection area, designated in 1994 under the EU birds directive. Malahide Estuary is also a candidate special area of conservation under the EU habitats directive. I understand that Bisset's strand is located within the SPA but not within the cSAC. The designation of an area as a SPA does not preclude development within it, but the impli cations of the development for the site must be assessed before a decision is taken by a planning or licensing authority.
A proposal to develop a car-park at Bisset's strand is the subject of a foreshore licence application to my colleague the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. His Department has sought comments from my Department on the implications of the proposal for the SPA and my officials are currently examining all relevant issues.
