Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006
341 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will protect and care for the health and management of the greater coastal area of Dublin Bay by including the following (details supplied). [26004/06]
View answerThe Department is responsible under the Foreshore Acts 1933-2005 for the granting of leases, licences and permissions to occupy or use the foreshore. All applications for authorisation under the Foreshore Acts are examined carefully by the Coastal Zone Management Division (CZMD) of the Department, in conjunction with its internal and external expert advisors. These advisers include the Department's Engineering Division and Sea Food Control Division, along with the Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport and the Valuation Office of Ireland.
More complex developments are also referred for consideration and advice to the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC), an expert committee comprised of scientific and technical staff of the Department, the Department of Transport, the Marine Institute and the Central Fisheries Board. Should our advisers have no objections in principle to a development, the applicant is required to advertise the project in a locally read newspaper and put plans on public display. This is to allow the public or interested organisations the opportunity to make representations or objections on the development.
A recommendation is then made to me, taking account of the expert advice and any submissions received, as to whether or not an authorisation should be granted. If the recommendation is that a lease or licence be granted, the conditions that are to be attached to the authorisation are specified. Developments on State or private foreshore adjoining a local authority's administrative area generally also require planning permission in addition to a Foreshore Lease/Licence/ Permission. I am satisfied that the above approach is comprehensive in nature and ensures that any applications for Development in Dublin Bay will be thoroughly assessed by the Department. In addition, Dublin City Council has also formed a multi agency Steering Group in order to develop a Development Framework for the future strategic role of Dublin Bay as a multifaceted resource. The Department is represented on this group, which had its first meeting last April.
