Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 January 2013
152. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way the recent designation of the area from Rockabill to the Dalkey Island reefs as a special area of conservation will affect the greater Dublin drainage project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3604/13]
View answer153. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the greater Dublin drainage project relied on the non-designation of proposed outfall areas as special areas of conservation; the extent to which this project will be reconsidered following this designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3605/13]
View answer154. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the special area of conservation from Rockabill to the Dalkey Island reefs will be threatened by the proposed greater Dublin drainage project; the damage that will be caused to marine life in the area by the construction of outfall pipes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3606/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 152 to 154, inclusive, together.
Planning for the Greater Dublin Regional Drainage Project – North Dublin Treatment Plant and Orbital Sewer is being progressed by Fingal County Council.
Under the Alternative Sites Assessment and Route Selection Report (Phase 2) for the scheme, three possible treatment sites and two possible outfall locations have been identified by the Council as emerging preferred options and a non-statutory public consultation process was carried out during 2012. I understand that the Council and the Project Team are now assessing the submissions made and hope to complete their deliberations in the first half of this year.
While it appears that both of the emerging outfall location options may impinge on the Rockabill to Dalkey Island Candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC), it is not clear what, if any, impacts the project would have on the Candidate SAC. I understand that once the preferred treatment site and outfall options have been chosen, Fingal County Council will carry out appropriate environmental evaluations during the planning of the project. The Council will then prepare detailed plans and complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project. This EIS, which will, inter alia, address any impacts on the Candidate SAC, will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála together with a planning application under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure Act) 2006. An Bord Pleanála will carry out its own evaluation of the project following a statutory public consultation phase.
