Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

192 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 7 May 1998, her Department monitored the construction stopped by an order of the High Court on 26 June 1998 at Rinmore Point, Fanad, County Donegal; if substantial loads of gravel were removed from the foreshore and exported from the area during the period of construction in view of her assurances in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 18 June 1998 and the clear physical evidence of the damage to these stony banks by this development; and if she will consequently re-examine the scientific assessment made by Dúchas, her Department's heritage service and in view of Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 18 June l998 which stated that these habitats will not be affected by the proposed plant. [16831/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage; Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

Regional staff of Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, have been aware for some time that an area of shoreline at Rinmore Point has been and continues to be used as a local source of shingle for building purposes. Dúchas has been actively addressing this issue, and has been making every effort to identify those engaged in this activity — those thought to be involved have been written to by Dúchas and have been advised that this activity is not permissible. Efforts to stop this material being removed will be maintained. If the Deputy has any specific information or evidence concerning those involved I would be interested in receiving it from him.

However, I have no evidence to suggest that those involved in the construction of the fish processing plant proposed for this area participated in the removal of shingle or other material from the protected habitats in this site. Dúchas regional personnel have received assurances from the relevant contractors in this regard, and their inspection of the area where construction is taking place appeared to confirm this.

Dúchas will of course be monitoring the area on an ongoing basis.