Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012
431. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of the 3 October 2012, the progress he has made on the restoration and re-instatement of Reendonegan Lake, Bantry, County Cork; the timetable for completion of the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49663/12]
View answerI draw the Deputy’s attention to my response to his question in the House on 3 October 2012, which he references. I informed the House that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) had advised that options in respect of Reendonegan Lake are being reviewed. This will involve discussions with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), amongst others, as the lake was previously an inlet of the sea.
In addition, following this consultation, any works proposed on the foreshore solution will require a licence from the appropriate Department.
In assessing the appropriate long term solution for Reendonegan, there is an imperative to ensure that it is appropriately engineered and takes into consideration issues such as access for works, access for landowners in the long term, use of the lake, costs involved and sources of funding. These processes and the consultation and licensing I have referred to cannot be prudently completed in a hasty manner and without very careful consideration. I do, however, appreciate the importance of the issue to the Deputy and I would be happy to have Inland Fisheries Ireland keep him up to date as the process develops.
