Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2007
98 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the terms of reference, the membership and the report date of the Task Force on Dublin Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30709/07]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a Dublin Bay Area Task Force to maximise the potential of the Bay for the people of the capital city. I expect to finalise arrangements for its establishment early in the new year.
Dublin City Council has a policy objective in its Development Plan 2005-2011 to prepare a plan for Dublin Bay from (and including) North Bull Island and the South Wall to Booterstown, concentrating also on the Port area. It is envisaged that this plan will help to identify and determine the role of that part of the Bay as an economic, amenity, recreational, environmental and ecological resource.
As the first stage in the preparation of the plan for the Dublin Bay area, the Council commissioned a study of the Bay including the Port area in November 2006, and the draft study report issued for public consultation in October 2007 for a four-week period. I understand from Dublin City Council that a large number of submissions have been received and are currently being considered.
While the terms of reference for the Dublin Bay Area Task Force are not yet finalised, the approach will be to build on the analysis and work in relation to Dublin Bay by the City Council and other relevant stakeholders. The Government commitment in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 to undertake a comprehensive study of the role of Dublin Port "in the context of overall ports policy on the island of Ireland, wider transport policy, urban development policy, the National Spatial Strategy and national economic policy", which will be led by the Department of Transport, is also relevant in this regard.
