Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
661. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of processing the foreshore licence application by Galway City Council so that it can commence critical coastal protection works from Sáilín to Silverstrand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53015/18]
View answerMy Department has received a foreshore licence application from Galway City Council to develop coastal protection works in an area west of Salthill from Sallins to Silverstrand. It includes the protection of sand cliffs and the extension of a walkway and cycle path from Salthill out to Silverstrand. The proposed development is within a designated SAC. This matter has not yet undergone a technical assessment by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee and as such is yet to come before me for determination.
While the matter has not yet come before me for determination, I understand that in response to a request from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (through the prescribed body consultation process) the applicant submitted a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) to allow for the Minister to carry out an Appropriate Assessment of the proposed development. As part of this process, the NIS was referred to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DCHG) who provided comprehensive environmental related observations and recommendations.
There was ongoing correspondence as well as a meeting between my Department and Galway City Council on this matter over 2017 and early 2018. Through this process, the local authority indicated that they were fully aware of and understand the environmental concerns.
In addition to the environmental concerns as to the effect of the proposed development on the conservation objectives of the SAC, concerns were also raised as to the validity of the existing planning permission given that a letter from the local authority to my Department dated 10 April 2018 includes details of material alterations and deviations from the earlier planning consent granted by An Bord Pleanála. The local authority was contacted in mid 2018 and requested that they now verify the validity of their existing planning consent in the context of the stated deviations and material changes. A response to this request is awaited; once received, the matter will be considered further.
