Vol. 458 No. 7
26 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for the Marine if the working group established to draw up a coastal zone management plan for our coastline has concluded its report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17474/95]
A contract was awarded on 8 August 1995 to a consultancy group headed by Brady, Shipman, Martin, Planning Consultants, to undertake a study on Coastal Zone Management (CZM) in Ireland. The study is being carried out on behalf of the Ministers for the Marine, the Environment and Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
The purpose of the study is to establish a basis for policy formulations on an overall framework for coastal zone planning and management. It will constitute an important advance in the development of a comprehensive management policy for the entire coastal zone and will facilitate the putting in place of a co-ordinated strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of that zone.
The study is well under way and considerable progress has been made in reviewing relevant legal and administrative procedures in this country and in examining experience with, and approaches to, CZM in other countries.
It is expected that the final report of the study will be presented to the commissioning Ministers at the end of January or early in February 1996.
