Vol. 400 No. 2
21 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the concern in the Dún Laoghaire area of County Dublin regarding a proposed infill scheme by a company (details supplied) at the West Pier, Dún Laoghaire Harbour; if he has received any application for a foreshore licence in connection with this project; if the Interim Harbour Board has given him any advice on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
31 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the grave concern at the proposed infill and housing development at West Pier, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; if he will give an assurance that no action will be taken in this regard, pending a programme of environmental study that could produce scientific evidence which could be considered at a public inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
37 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if he considers it desirable that houses be built in Dublin Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Limerick West): I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 31 and 37 together.
Consideration of this matter concerns my Department in so far as land reclamation requires a lease under the Foreshore Act, 1933. There is provision for the holding, if necessary, of a public inquiry under section 2 (8) of that Act. To date there is no application for such a lease under consideration, for the area at West Pier, Dún Laoghaire, or any other area in Dublin Bay. If one were made, for reclamation of an area in excess of 10 hectares, an environmental impact assessment would be a mandatory requirement.
I understand that outline development proposals for the area at West Pier, Dún Laoghaire are among those to be considered by the Interim Harbour Board but I have not yet received advice from them on the project.
On a previous occasion the Minister for the Marine informed the House that he would put on public display any proposals emanating from the Interim Harbour Board. Can the Minister give us an assurance that, first, no decision will be taken by the Minister for the Marine about this matter prior to receiving the advice of the Interim Harbour Board and prior to the proposals being put on public display? Second, can he give an assurance that should an application be made there will, in fact, be a public inquiry in connection with that application?
(Limerick West): No decision will be made by the Minister or my Department without due consideration of the decision of the Interim Harbour Board. The other questions which the Deputy has raised will, in the first instance, be a matter for the Interim Harbour Board which was set up recently. The purpose of their being set up was to examine everything in detail and outline proposals to the Minister, myself and the Department for development in Dún Laoghaire harbour.
As there is considerable concern in my constituency about this matter and about the rights of the public to be fully aware of what is happening and to have a proper input into any decisions which will be made, can the Minister give the House an assurance that if an application is made under the Foreshore Act for a licence, a public inquiry will be held in accordance with the provisions of that Act?
(Limerick West): As I have indicated to the Deputy, the purpose of setting up the Interim Harbour Board for Dún Laoghaire was to examine all aspects of the areas which the Deputy has outlined. The question of a foreshore lease is a matter for the Department of the Marine.
Would the Minister agree that an interim harbour board is not a satisfactory body to deal with this matter? Can he state what progress has been made towards establishing a proper harbour board for Dún Laoghaire?
(Limerick West): As I indicated at the time the Interim Harbour Board was set up it would take some time to set up a permanent harbour board. The best advice to the Minister at the time was that an interim harbour board be set up to examine the items outlined by the Deputies.
When will we have the proper harbour authority?
(Limerick West): It will take some time before all the legal problems are sorted out. In the meantime an interim harbour board was set up to examine in detail the development projects for Dún Laoghaire harbour.
Do I understand the Minister of State correctly that if the Interim Harbour Board recommend that a public inquiry be held on an application for a foreshore licence, the Minister will, in fact, decide to have a public inquiry?
We are having repetition of an obvious type.
(Limerick West): I have already indicated to the Deputy that the granting of a foreshore licence is a matter for my Department.
Can we come to deal with Question No. 22?
