Adjournment Debate

Regeneration Programme

Deputy John Perry

In 2004 the Sligo Borough Council embarked on the development of plans for the social, economic and physical regeneration of Cranmore, in Sligo city. From this overall development plan, came a social plan and a physical plan. Both these plans included ideas for economic development. The social plan was adopted September 2007. I am happy to acknowledge that it is now being implemented.

The plan for the social regeneration of Cranmore is an integral part of wider plans for the integrated development of Sligo , and particularly the eastern side of Sligo city. The economic viability of the wider plan has been tested and accepted. Investment in the physical regeneration of Cranmore and a new eastern bridge are integral elements of the plan. The national spatial strategy and plans for the future development of the eastern side of Sligo city include additional road transport links to all the public services and facilities on the eastern side of Sligo, such as the hospital, the Institute of Technology and many of the major employers in Sligo. These road links are important to the overall development of both Sligo town and Sligo county. An eastern bypass for traffic wishing to pass through Sligo is also an important objective of the planning for the region, including travellers to and from Northern Ireland and tourists. It is much needed.

In December 2008 a majority of borough councillors voted to remove the eastern bridge from the plan. We need not inquire into how and why this decision was made. However, the decision was made. This decision has thrown the entire plan for the regeneration of Cranmore and the development of the eastern side of Sligo into confusion. The decision has stalled all practical progress on the regeneration of Cranmore. There is little evidence that the decision to remove the eastern bridge from the development plan for the eastern side of Sligo has brought any benefit to the future for Sligo town and county. There are some voices saying that the decision has damaged the credibility of Sligo as a serious location for future economic development and the gateway status of the region.

I can understand that a small number of people will be upset by the plans for the new eastern bridge. All development brings advantages and disadvantages. The reality on the ground is that Sligo city is built on a narrow bit of land between the sea and Lough Gill. This is the fundamental reason the town is located where it is. We do not have the luxury of going east or west until we find a crossing point that will be acceptable to everyone and will impact on no one. Nor will the country offer to build a tunnel under Sligo so that the construction of new bridges can be avoided. Geography is a fact of life. There are very few suitable locations for building bridges across the River Garavogue.

I am delighted to see the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, who has responsibility for this matter in the House. During a visit to Sligo last year, the Minister of State made it very clear that if the bridge was not put back on the development plan, the funding for the regeneration would be gone. During the visit, the Minister of State may have indicated that the project investment will come from two different streams of funding and departments. This, in turn, had the unintended consequence of allowing some people to claim that Cranmore regeneration and the eastern bridge are independent projects. This is not true.

Over €100 million of investment funding is at stake here. The various elements of the project have been through the planning process. Everything is formally approved. Almost all the statutory approvals are in place and nearly everything is ready for the project investment to proceed.

The economic and social wellbeing of the eastern side of Sligo city, as well as the county and region, is held back at the moment and access to the services and facilities on the eastern side of Sligo are restricted. With the present restricted transport arrangements, it is too difficult for most of the people of Sligo to get to the hospital, to the IT campus, to St. Angela's College and to most of the major employers in the town. All these facilities must have good access routes.

This matter is one of those rare occasions where I am speaking in support of the Minister of State and what I believe to be his policy of investing in local infrastructure to the benefit of all the citizens of Sligo. Sligo needs this investment funding. There are thousands unemployed and thousands facing economic hardship. This investment will bring jobs and hope to Sligo town and Sligo county.

I ask the Minister of State to make a clear and categorical statement about the circumstances under which the investment funding for Cranmore regeneration will be released. This investment is needed in Sligo. This investment will bring major benefits to Sligo city and county. Will the Minister confirm that he is now prepared to issue a ministerial order to permit this investment in the development of Sligo to proceed?

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran)

I thank Deputy Perry for raising this matter and I welcome this opportunity to comment on these issues. I also welcome his support for my position on this matter. I know that to be his position locally in Cranmore and in Sligo. That information is readily available to me from people who are of the same opinion as myself, namely the residents of the Cranmore estate. I acknowledge Deputy Perry's support and the activity he has engaged in with the people of Cranmore regarding this very important matter for the development of Sligo.

I am keenly interested in the regeneration of Cranmore and the development of Sligo as a gateway under the national spatial strategy. I have engaged at every level, with the elected members, the county manager and his officials and community representatives in an effort to advance this project.

The Cranmore regeneration area has a population of over 2,000, of whom over 1,500 are living in the Cranmore estate. The Cranmore estate itself is strategically located relative to the town centre and was built on a phased basis between 1974 and 1992. It is home to approximately 10% of the population of Sligo Borough. In June 2006, the council submitted its draft framework plan for the regeneration of the area and because of Sligo's gateway status the scope and boundaries of the regeneration project were widened to include lands in proximity to Cranmore

Regeneration programmes take a holistic and strategic approach and are aimed at creating sustainable communities by addressing fundamental social and economic considerations — not just bricks and mortar considerations — as well as looking at wider issues such as infrastructure generally, accessibility, tenure mix, social exclusion and anti-social behaviour. To date approximately €14 million has been spent on the project in advance of the masterplan.

Following detailed discussions with my Department, Sligo Borough Council have prepared a detailed brief for the appointment of a multi-disciplinary design team to prepare a masterplan for the regeneration project. The masterplan will cover the whole of the eastern quadrant and I am anxious that it should be mindful of Sligo's gateway status and facilitate the future growth and development of Sligo as envisaged under the national spatial strategy.

However, the development of the masterplan has been delayed following the decision to delete the new eastern bridge and associated access roads from the new Sligo Borough development plan, adopted at the end of 2009. The brief for the masterplan was developed on the basis of the development objectives in the previous plan, which included the bridge-access routes. It is essential that we build effective links between the redevelopment of areas like Cranmore and the surrounding town in terms of access to services, employment and education, social and economic infrastructure. The regeneration of the eastern quadrant cannot be isolated from the development of Sligo and adequate access is an essential prerequisite for this part of Sligo. In terms of the proposed location of the new bridge, there is only very limited scope for considering alternatives because a special area of conservation lies immediately upstream, and contains highly significant alluvial woodland. The existing location was agreed following extensive local consultation and a lengthy oral hearing by An Bord Pleanála.

I have demonstrated my commitment to the regeneration project by allocating €4 million in 2009 and a further €3.5 million in 2010. I have made it clear that the completion of the masterplan is an urgent priority and that further funding is contingent on the adoption of this plan. I visited Sligo after the new development plan was adopted in order to see the area and the proposals at first hand. I met with local representatives and community groups and explored their concerns. My Department has subsequently been available to engage with the council on technical and practical issues. I am very much committed to the project and I encourage the borough council to work with my Department and the local community to progress it for the benefit of Sligo and its residents into the future.

I assure the Deputy I am totally committed to this project. I want to send out a clear message to the people in Cranmore and Sligo, and to the borough council. The development of Cranmore as a regeneration area cannot take place in isolation from access routes on the bridge. Whatever leeway exists regarding the bridge is very limited as the Deputy knows well.

Deputy John Perry

I know that very well.

Deputy Michael Finneran

It is also subject to a decision by An Bord Pleanála and an oral hearing. I would say to the borough council it should, in the best interests of the citizens of Cranmore and Sligo, which is now a gateway town, reverse its decision regarding the change in the town development plan. Sligo County Council supports my position and that of my Department on this matter. I understand all the elected Oireachtas Members from Sligo are also in favour of my position.

Deputy John Perry

Agreed.

Deputy Michael Finneran

As someone who had his second level education in Sligo, I know the town extremely well and am very keen that this be developed. The people of Cranmore are crying out for this development. It is estimated that more than €100 million will be invested in the region in developing that bridge and in the regeneration of Cranmore. This is dependent on a decision of the local borough council.

I will not address the matter of ministerial intervention now. I would like local people and their representatives to take this decision but I shall certainly keep it under review.

Deputy John Perry

I thank the Minister of State.

Hospital Services

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd

In the eyes of people living in County Louth, particularly in Dundalk, the closure of the emergency department in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk will have adverse effects. This decision will increase their worries and concerns, especially regarding the 24,000 people per annum admitted to the emergency department in Dundalk who must now go to Drogheda. I understand half of the hospital's 48,000 admissions will now go to Drogheda. The real concern is for those who might have a heart attack and be in extremis. The care they get at present will be physically taken from them in terms of the hospital environment of Dundalk. How can this be better for them? The care they get in Louth County Hospital will no longer be available to them. They are worried because of the time it will take to reach the hospital in Dundalk and thence to Drogheda. People who live in Carlingford or Omeath, for example, live approximately 61 km from Drogheda. On average it takes up to an hour to get to Drogheda. One may have a serious illness, specifically requiring immediate and urgent attention, and may suffer trauma, especially if a heart attack or a stroke are in question.

I understand the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, is to add an extra ambulance in the area. There will be more ambulances to bring people to Drogheda but those ambulances will have to travel longer distances. The concern is that a greater specialty would be available in Dundalk, greater than what the Minister proposes. I ask her to look at this issue again. I understand there can be specially trained paramedics who could adminster on-site specialist care in Dundalk in extreme cases. That is the real worry for people. Everybody accepts our hospitals have to change and that if one wants to opt into a service and is not a trauma or urgent medical case, it is possible to travel to a different place. However the time concern in this instance is a great worry to people and the fact that people may die on that journey is of concern.

This point was made by 24 doctors who signed a letter in a recent edition of the Dundalk Argus. They stated, “We, as general practitioners and gatekeepers of the health services in the Dundalk area, were ignored in any decision making process”. They attended two meetings with their representative and were informed of the intended transformation process. They further stated:

The decision to remove accident and emergency services and acute hospital care was a fait accompli. Our opinion was not considered. We had no influence on the decision making process. The removal of the A & E services and acute medical care will result in increased hardship to the people of north Louth.

Twenty-four local general practitioners signed that letter, expressing professional and medical concern.

Ultimately, we believe Drogheda will struggle to cope with the extra 24,000 patients per annum who will come into the emergency department, notwithstanding the fact that a brand new department opened only last week. The closure of the Louth County emergency department will lead to massive increased pressure on the already strained Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital which has suffered badly from the closure of services in surrounding areas. This has placed increased pressure on the hospital but resources have not been increased in proportion, especially in terms of bed capacity.

People worry about the closure of health services in Dundalk without adequate alternatives being in place. Everybody accepts things must change but now there is a greater worry that people who previously would have been seen in Dundalk by properly trained and skilled emergency doctors and technicians will no longer have that service in place and must travel to Drogheda to get it. I ask the Minister what are the extra reassurances, if any, she can provide at this stage. What especially trained ambulance personnel can she place in situ in Dundalk? I understand that one of the ambulances the Minister proposes to add to the mix will be based in Carrickmacross which is a significant distance away. I reiterate the concerns of people living in north County Louth, especially where there is a topography of mountainous terrain. There is one main road but many of the by-roads are traditional country roads on which it is impossible to make good time. People believe that by the time the seriously ill get to Dundalk they may well have passed on. That is the real worry for people. I ask the Minister to address those issues.

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

I thank Deputy O'Dowd for raising this issue. It is ironic that we are discussing this issue some 90 minutes after discussing patient safety. I assure the Deputy that everything being done in this regard is being done on the basis of the best clinical advice available to me and the HSE. I am conscious there are concerns and worries among the population of north Louth; that is to be expected. However, I am equally aware that the most senior clinicians in this country, led by Dr. Michael Power, who leads for the HSE in regard to critical care and is based in the Mater Hospital, a man with enormous experience and expertise and a leader among his peers, have strongly recommended that this transfer should take place now rather than in the autumn.

As the Deputy is aware, it was intended that this transfer would take place in October, in line with the reconfiguration. The new accident and emergency department has opened in Drogheda and is four times bigger than the previous such department. The minor injuries unit will operate from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. in Drogheda. There is an additional 24 hour seven day week ambulance, to be based in north Louth. When patients are seriously ill and must be taken to a hospital the critical factor is the advanced paramedics who arrive on the site. The Deputy is right to emphasise the significance of the ambulance and paramedic support. In every system throughout the world at which we looked, pre-hospital care and first point of care are often where the most significant intervention takes place, especially when a person experiences a heart attack. He or she can be brought to a place and be offered the best possible chance of recovery. We know that some people with heart conditions who reach the appropriate place within two hours and have stenting can effectively reverse a heart attack.

In the first place, the pre-hospital service is important and that has been strengthened in the area. The ambulance service has assured us it is taking measures to strengthen and increase the resources available. Second, there is an additional 24-7 ambulance to be based in north Louth. The ambulance service took the view that the current service in Monaghan should be switched to Carrickmacross to provide better cover for the catchment. In addition, Daisy Hill Hospital will be available. There are protocols for patients to be taken to the hospital if that is appropriate.

Louth County Hospital has a good future. Its future will be in doing different things, such as more elective work and more diagnostics. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has strongly made the case for a colonoscopy service to be provided there. From 1 January we will be providing a national colorectal screening programme. The Minister, Deputy Ahern, asked that the colonoscopy service for the north east be based in at Louth County Hospital and I strongly support that. I see no reason that we cannot make that happen. I know it is the view of the clinical director, Dr. Ó Branagáin, and through discussions with the cancer control programme, I will ensure that Louth County Hospital is where this service will be provided in the region, rather than at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, which will always be under pressure as one of the main hospitals in the north east.

Reconfiguration of hospital services is always challenging and worrying for the public because people become very reassured by having a hospital in their midst. However, we all want the best possible care for members of our families if they are sick. We want them to be taken to the most appropriate place, wherever that is. As they say in the medical world, the right people in the right place at the right time provide the best possible result. The north east has five acute hospitals for a population of 300,000. We are moving into a licensing regime for acute hospitals, probably beginning in 2012 or 2013. The legislation will be published by the end of this year or the start of 2011. We want public consultation on that. The standards that will have to be met by the hospitals will be published next month in draft form by HIQA, and again will be subject to public consultation. These will form the basis of the new law, which has been recommended by most people, including medics, nurses and doctors, as well as the patient safety commission.

At a time when we are talking about licensing kennels and looking after dogs, it is ironic that we still do not have a licensing system for hospitals in this country. It is long overdue and it is going to happen. Everything we are doing is in preparation for that licensing regime. If the system was in operation today, we know that many of the services in some of our hospitals would not be sustainable and would have to be moved.

We are aware of the need to strengthen the ambulance service in the region. In particular, we are aware of the need to make sure that more things are diverted to hospitals such as Louth County Hospital, so that the community will know that the majority of their health needs can be met in the region. It is only when we are acutely ill or have a complex health problem that we will need to go to Drogheda or Cavan. Up to 95% of our health requirements can be dealt with at primary care or in hospitals such as Louth County Hospital.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I assure him we are mindful of the challenges. Change is never easy. I accept what the 24 GPs have said, but I assure him that these decisions are being based on the best clinical evidence available to us. That is not to suggest that the general practitioners do not provide good clinical evidence, but in this case moving critical care and acute care is based on the advice of the experts in that field. This is why it is happening now rather than in October, for when it was originally planned.

Social Welfare Benefits

Deputy Lucinda Creighton

I am very pleased to have an opportunity to raise the very important issue of the carer's allowance in the Chamber this evening. Everybody would agree that it is impossible to overstate the huge importance and the value of the role of carers in Irish society. In particular, I refer to the role they play and the great social value of the work they do in keeping families together, binding communities and keeping people with disabilities, people with medical problems and older people in their own homes, and helping them avoid the fate of being consigned to nursing homes and surrounded by strangers, even though these may be health care professionals. People deserve to live in a family environment and should be afforded the dignity of availing of this in their twilight years.

Carers also have a very important monetary impact on Irish society. There are 161,000 family carers in this country at present. It is estimated that they contribute the monetary equivalent of €2.5 billion to the economy each year through the amount of hours they invest in caring for family members. We cannot afford to ignore that.

Up until a few years ago, it was fairly easy to access the carer's allowance with the requisite certification and letters from a local GP. Anybody with an essential medical need qualified and was entitled to avail of the allowance for a family member to look after him or her. That is now not the case and I have met constituents who applied for the allowance but were refused, even though they had a significant medical need. They applied again and were refused on appeal. This is not satisfactory because there clearly has been a very significant shift in attitude in the Department of Social Protection. It has not been explained and has not been adopted as an official position. My hunch is that the Government is under severe pressure for resources and I think that a decision has been taken to tighten up significantly on the carer's allowance. The policy appears to be to refuse applications almost universally when they come in. This is simply not adequate. The least people deserve is an acknowledgement from the Government that the policy has changed, that the funds are not there and that the carer's allowance is now much more difficult to access.

I would like to highlight one case in my constituency which sums up the current situation. A woman who I shall call Mary — it is not her real name — cares for her aunt on a full-time basis. She is a full-time carer and her aunt has nine conditions, namely, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, hypertension, asthma, fluid retention and carpal tunnel syndrome. I have met her in her house and she is severely debilitated. She is unable to care for herself. Due to the carpal tunnel syndrome, she has no power in her hands. She has the use of one baby finger and a baby finger and index finger on her other hand. She cannot even make herself a cup of tea. She is taking a huge amount of medicine every day, but she cannot administer that medicine, so her niece is caring for her full-time. She is in receipt of social welfare but has absolutely no assistance from the State in caring for her aunt.

I do not believe it is acceptable that when this woman applied for the carer's allowance she was refused on the basis that her aunt did not fulfil the medical requirements. That is ludicrous, so she applied a second time but was refused again. On the second occasion, her GP, who I know well, wrote a letter pleading with the deciding officer and explained that this woman is not capable of caring for herself and that she would be destitute without full-time care from her niece. She was refused by an unknown deciding officer somewhere in the midlands who based his decision on the fact that she did not meet the medical requirements. This is catastrophic. It is unacceptable. It makes me angry and upset to think that people who are in dire need of assistance to enable them keep people in the community and not surrender them to the State and to State institutions — which is the other alternative and a far more costly one from an economic point of view — cannot be afforded the dignity they deserve by the Government. Our priorities are all wrong. It is extraordinary to see a Deputy from the other side of the House take a principled position on stag hunting, which has no bearing on his constituency and in my view has nothing to do with principle, while at the same time he is willing to stand over this type of abuse by the State of people who are in dire need. I ask the Minister of State to convey that message to the Minister.

Deputy Michael Finneran

I am taking the debate on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection. If the Deputy gives me the details of the case of the woman she referred to as Mary, although that is not her real name, I will pass them directly to the Minister and ask him to have it investigated.

On the broader issue of the difficulties experienced by carers in accessing funding under the carer's allowance, entitlement to carer's allowance is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. In determining entitlement to the allowance there are, in certain cases, unavoidable time lags involved in making the necessary investigations and inquiries to enable accurate decisions to be made. In certain instances people applying for the allowance are not in a position to supply all the necessary information in support of their claim. This can lead to additional delays in processing their claims.

The most recent processing figures available — May 2010 — indicate that almost 80% of claims for carer's allowance are processed within 12 weeks. The average time to decide a claim for carer's allowance is eight weeks. This is similar to processing times in 2009. At some 35%, the same level of applications were rejected in both years.

In 2009, 16,574 new claims were received and 5,776 rejected in the year. In 2010 to date, 8,959 new claims have been received and 3,153 rejected, representing a 35% rejection rate. In 2009, some 1,300 appeals were received of which 244, or 19%, were allowed and 570 cases, or almost 44%, were disallowed, 48 cases were partly allowed and 53 cases were withdrawn. If the person supplies additional information with the appeal the case is re-examined by the deciding officer. In 2009, 388 cases were revised on the basis of new information. There are currently 3,608 claims on hand for decision.

At the end of December 2009 there were just more than 48,220 people in receipt of carer's allowance, an increase of approximately 11% on the previous year. Of these some 19,100 are in receipt of half-rate carer's allowance and another social welfare payment. In addition, more than 1,910 people are in receipt of carer's benefit.

The staff and other resources available to the Department are regularly reviewed having regard to the workload arising and other competing demands. The Department monitors available resources against workload on an ongoing basis with a view to ensuring optimum processing times for claims.

The Government is acutely aware and appreciative of the contribution made by carers. It was for that reason, that when resources were available, we invested heavily in improving social welfare rates and services for carers.

During the past decade, carer payment rates have greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit, half-rate carer's allowance and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended.

People caring for more than one person receive a higher rate of payment, equating to an additional 50% of the maximum personal rate. Recipients with children also receive a qualified child increase in respect of each child.

Following this year's budget, the carer's allowance rate for carers over 66 years of age has not changed and remains at €239. The rate of carer's allowance for someone under 66 years of age is €212.

Since the introduction of the carer's allowance in 1990 payments to carers have been increased and expanded. The carer's allowance was increased in 2007, 2008 and 2009 by 12.1%, 6.5% and 3.3%, respectively. As a result, even with the reduction announced in the last budget for carers under 66 years of age, the weekly rate of payment for the carer's allowance is still almost 20% higher this year than in 2006 and more than 147% higher than in 1997.

The means test for carer's allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €37,200 and qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €60,400 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel and household benefits package. These levels surpass the Towards 2016 commitment to ensure those on average industrial earnings continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance.

From June 2005, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full-time care to a person who needs such care, regardless of their income. The rate of the respite care grant has also been increased to €1,700 per year in respect of each care recipient since June 2008. The Government will continue to support carers within the resources available.

If the Deputy gives me the details of the case to which she referred, I will pass it directly to the Minister responsible, Deputy Ó Cuív.

Deputy Lucinda Creighton

I thank the Minister of State for that.

Foreshore Licences

Acting Chairman (Deputy Cyprian Brady)

This matter is in the names of Deputies Ferris and Deenihan and they will have two and a half minutes each

Deputy Martin Ferris

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government confirmed on 22 April this year that it had given preliminary approval for a foreshore licence for an LNG project in Tarbert, County Kerry, the application for which was made two years prior to that. The project was unveiled in 2006. It was held up during that period primarily by objections despite the fact that it was one of the first projects to be fast-tracked under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act. It was the subject of two oral hearings by An Bord Pleanála, in both of which the decision was to give the project the go ahead. There is great concern about the delay regarding the foreshore licence. We understand it is due to legal details concerning the licence. We were told in April of this year that it would only take a few weeks to rectify the matter.

This project is of huge importance to north Kerry in particular, given that the rate of unemployment in this area as well as west Limerick at approximately 25% is twice the national average rate. It is hoped that this project will create approximately 400 jobs in the long term, which would be invaluable to this area and community. It is particularly important given that there has been a haemorrhage of jobs in Tralee and Listowel in north Kerry during the past seven or eight years. The workforce in that area was very dependent on the construction sector. That is the reason many young men got work in the construction sector but most of them are now unemployed.

We would welcome if the Minister of State could confirm that the legal difficulties delaying this project, which is what we understand are delaying it, would be dealt with speedily and that the project would be given the go ahead. I stress the importance of this project for north Kerry and west Limerick. Members of all parties are working collectively to create an environment to enable people to get back to work.

Deputy Jimmy Deenihan

The Shannon LNG project was announced in May 2006. In September 2007 a planning application was lodged with An Bord Pleanála for the terminal. Permission was granted by the board in March 2008 even though this was a complex application which involved a protracted oral hearing. However, the process has not been as efficient in respect of the foreshore licence. Shannon LNG had its first meeting with the engineering division of the foreshore licence section of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 27 August 2007. It made a formal application for the licence on 2 April 2008, more than two years ago. Last April, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government confirmed in the House that he had signed off on the licence which would be sent to the Office of the Chief State Solicitor for final clearance. This has not happened to date.

This project is of significant national importance in terms of energy security and of great local importance in terms of providing jobs. As regards energy security, almost 60% of Ireland's electricity is generated using natural gas as fuel. There is a high level of dependence on gas imports from the United Kingdom, with some 90% of our gas being imported from that country. Moreover, the United Kingdom itself is projected to have to import up to 79% of its own gas requirements by 2016. It makes no sense to rely for our supplies on a country whose own resources are running out. Shannon LNG can provide security and diversity of supply and storage and thus reduce our dependence on one import pipeline from Scotland.

There is also a significant local employment aspect to this project. It is expected that it will provide 350 jobs at any one time over a four-year period. There will also be 200 jobs for more than six months relating to the construction of the pipeline. When the terminal is operational it will provide more than 100 jobs, including some in the broader economy. If there is a difficulty with regard to the foreshore licence, it must be communicated to Shannon LNG. If it is a case of expertise not being available to carry out a proper examination of the foreshore licence application, surely such expertise should be assigned to the project as a matter of urgency in view of its strategic importance.

Deputy Michael Finneran

I thank Deputies Ferris and Deenihan for raising this matter. I am very conscious of the economic potential of this project and I hope to throw some light on the matter in my reply. Following the enactment of the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act 2009, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government assumed responsibility in January 2010 for a range of foreshore functions including all foreshore energy-related developments.

The Shannon LNG proposal to construct a liquefied natural gas, LNG, regasification terminal on the Shannon Estuary between Tarbert and Ballylongford in County Kerry was one of a large number of projects for which foreshore applications had been submitted and on which decisions had not been finalised or conveyed to the project promoters prior to the transfer of functions. This project will involve the construction of an LNG marine import and regasification terminal, and a pipeline connection from the site to the Bord Gáis transmission system.

The four foreshore applications made by Shannon LNG in respect of the project were originally made to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in April 2008. The applications are for consents under the Foreshore Act to construct an LNG jetty that will be used for mooring and offloading LNG tankers; a materials handling jetty for the delivery of construction materials to the site by sea; a sea water intake and outfall required to circulate sea water through heat exchangers for use in the process of warming the LNG and converting it from liquid to gas; and a drainage outfall to discharge surface water, ground water, treated foul water, and used fire water from the proposed development.

Following submission of the applications, they were referred to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's expert consultees, all of whom approved of the proposed developments subject to certain conditions. The applications were also subjected to the usual public consultation procedure, property valuation and deliberation by the marine licence vetting committee, which also recommended approval of the applications subject to the conditions specified by the expert consultees. All of the specified conditions to be attached to the consents have now been accepted by the applicant.

The consent process had not reached a conclusion when responsibility for the applications transferred into the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in January 2010. However, the Department moved to finalise the consent process as a matter of priority, which required advice from the Attorney General's office on a legal matter. Following receipt of this advice, the Minister, Deputy John Gormley, granted the consents on 20 April 2010. On 22 April 2010 the Department instructed the Chief State Solicitor's office to draft the necessary and complex legal documents required to give effect to the consents. Work has been ongoing on this issue and the CSSO has confirmed that the amended drafts of the documents will be available by 1 July 2010, allowing the draft leases and licences to issue to the applicant for their agreement.

Deputy Jimmy Deenihan

It is nice to hear some positive news.

The Dáil adjourned at 10.45 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 30 June 2010.

Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 29 Jun 2010