Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 3

Written Answers. - Planning Issues.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

341 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government his views on a proposal to develop a lignite open cast mine or power station near Ballymena, County Antrim; the effects the development will have on areas of the State; and the measures he is taking to protect residents of this State from the proposed development. [28293/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

As is standard practice in cases involving environmental impact assessment, EIA, which may have significant transboundary effects, the Northern Ireland Planning Service notified my Department of a planning application in respect of this development by letter dated 1 April 2003. My Department formally notified all planning authorities in the Border counties of the proposed development and advised them to contact the Northern Ireland authorities directly if they wished to participate in the EIA process.

In addition, my Department wrote to the Northern Ireland Planning Service on 8 April 2003 requesting further information on the quantity of transboundary gases – sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and heavy metals – which would be released and any likely impacts in this State. By letter dated 15 April, the Northern Ireland authorities advised that this information would be requested from the applicant. No further communication has been received so far from the Northern Ireland authorities.

Question No. 342 answered with Question No. 336.