Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 February 2022
12. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 811 of 14 December 2021, the status of the development of the pier on Inis Oírr; when she expects the pre-construction issues to be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8494/22]
View answerAg dul ar ais go dtí na hoileáin, an uair seo go hInis Oírr. Baineann mo cheist leis an gcéibh agus an obair atá beartaithe uirthi le fada an lá. Tagraím go háirithe do stádas na dtascanna atá riachtanach roimh an fhorbairt atá beartaithe.
My question relates to Inis Oírr and the pier development. It has been promised for years. Previous questions were asked by me and my colleagues in Galway West. We have specifically asked for times and dates. I am asking today about the pre-construction issues. Can we have clarity on those?
Táimid ar ais ag na hoileáin. As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of infrastructure on the Aran Islands. The development of the pier on Inis Oírr is listed among the strategic objectives set out in Project Ireland 2040.
I understand that the council held a meeting recently with the foreshore unit in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to discuss the application for a foreshore licence. They were advised that it is a lengthy process and some additional studies will need to be undertaken.
Given these developments, I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with a definitive date for the resolution of all of the pre-construction issues. I can assure the House that my Department will continue to engage robustly with Galway County Council so that the issues continue to be progressed as quickly as possible.
I note the words "robustly" and "continue". They are appropriate in the context of this island because the planning permission dates back to 2008. Here we are again. I welcome that there is a steering committee and I welcome the fact that it is meeting regularly. It would be more helpful if the minutes were available so we could all be part of that, because that would bring openness and accountability. What is worrying in this case, however, is that the business case was agreed, I understand, last April. The business case is out of the way, and I understand that the money problem is out of the way. The planning permission problem is out of the way. The difficulty now are the pre-tasks such as the pre-construction and the application for a foreshore licence. I do not know whether I am misunderstanding this, but from my reading of comments made, I believe by the Minister when she was addressing the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands, we were given to understand that an application had been made for a foreshore licence. Is that application with the Department? Perhaps the Minister could clarify that for me.
Galway County Council is submitting that application. I understand that the application is with the relevant Department, which I believe is the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. As I understand it, it is there. We are meeting fortnightly with Galway County Council but the ball is in its court at this moment. The Department has approved the business case. Galway County Council is in the process of resolving the pre-construction issues, before a request for tender can be issued. Money is not the issue here. I am concerned about how long it is taking. We are meeting with the council and we are continuing to make sure that it is moved on quickly as possible, insofar as we can. That is all I can say to the Deputy on it. There are a number of things that must be addressed. I am a bit concerned that the foreshore is going to take time to issue, but there is a process to go through. That is where the matter stands.
I understand that, and I understand the Minister doing her best in respect of this matter. I do not know, however, how we can get so far from where it was good news, nearly with the approval to go out to tender, and with the business case done and everything ready. Yet now we are back here again. I understood that construction was to begin, albeit in stages, before the end of this year. Now we are back looking at a foreshore licence and a compulsory purchase order.
In fairness to the council, there has not been a manager for that council for a long time. There have been acting managers. There have been problems with retention of staff and people moving. How much attention are they in a position to give to a project of this size? Are there enough staff and is there a driving force? I acknowledge that the Minister has a driving force now with the steering committee, but who is driving this in the county council? Does it have sufficient staff and expertise? At some stage, can we get a date for completion of the work? Why was the foreshore licence not applied for before this?
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Connolly as ucht na ceiste tábhachtach seo a chur chun cinn. Tá sé go maith go bhfuil cruinnithe rialta ar siúl leis an gcomhairle contae ach is mór an trua é go bhfuil daoine ag fanacht le fada an lá agus nach bhfuil amlínte ann faoi láthair mar tá amlínte tábhachtach. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil Stoirm Eunice ag teacht amárach agus b'fhéidir go mbeidh tuilleadh damáiste. Táthar ag rá go mb'fhéidir go mbeidh stádas dearg ag baint leis sin agus léiríonn sin arís eile cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé seo mar phíosa infreastruchtúir do mhuintir na n-oileán, do mhuintir Inis Oírr agus d'éinne atá ag déanamh oibre le hInis Oírr.
It is positive that these regular meetings are happening. That is very important. Obviously, the most important thing is to make sure that the people of Inis Oírr are fully aware. We are coming up to another storm tomorrow and we know the impact this can have on the island community, and especially when this kind of critical infrastructure is needed. I would urge that there is constant contact with the local community.
There is constant contact between my officials and the islanders.
I have been asked questions regarding Galway County Council, which I honestly cannot answer. I can say that my Department is giving Galway County Council all of the support we can give in trying to move this on as quickly as possible. They are finalising the compulsory purchase order, CPO, for two parcels of land. One is a temporary CPO for the duration of the development and the other is permanent.
Galway County Council has lodged the foreshore licence application but they were advised during a recent meeting with the foreshore unit that it is a lengthy process and no estimated time for approval had been given. If we can move it on quicker we can, but obviously there is a process that must be gone through to get that.
Additional marine surveys and environmental studies are to be carried out at the location as part of the foreshore application. Galway County Council has published draft bye-laws for the management of the pier and is currently collating the submissions received from the public.
The project will not be held up by my Department. The money is not the issue. It will get the funding but there are things that have to be done before the project can be progressed any further.
