Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2015
262. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the name of the visual impact consultancy that assessed the visual impact of the offshore wind farm known as Codling #1 as part of the foreshore lease process for that development; or, if no independent visual impact consultancy was engaged to do so, the qualifications of whoever carried out the assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9823/15]
View answerThe then Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources did not engage any external consultants to review any aspect of the foreshore lease application for the development of a wind farm on the Codling Bank, off the Wicklow coast, which is the subject of a 2005 lease between the then Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Codling Wind Park Ltd.
The lease application, together with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which included a visual effects assessment, was subjected to a comprehensive assessment by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC). The MLVC is comprised of a range of technical advisors who advise the Minister on such matters.
