Vol. 508 No. 3
149 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will give details of the application by a consortium, includ ing ESB, for a wind farm on the Kish Bank; the form of assessment being undertaken by his Department of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19021/99]
My Department is currently developing policy for the issue of foreshore leases for the construction and operation of generating stations to be situated on the foreshore. While policy is being decided, applications are being considered from intending developers for foreshore licences to allow the suitability of sites to be examined.
The application from the Kish consortium is for a foreshore licence to allow such exploration to take place and is currently being processed. Exploration of the suitability of a site would involve minor disturbance of the seabed at selected locations around the licence area to determine the type of sea bed and sea bottom conditions to be encountered, and also, inter alia, include measurement of wind and wave strengths within the area.
In the event that the outcome of such investigations proves the suitability of the site and the licensee wishes to proceed, the next step would be an application for a foreshore lease to allow construction and operation of the generating station. The application would have to be accompanied by an environmental impact statement, authorisation to construct an electricity station and licences to generate and supply electricity.
Public notice would, of course, have to be given of any such application and interested parties would be given a full opportunity to comment on the application. Planning permission would also be required for shore based works associated with the transmission of electricity generated to the national grid or directly to customers as appropriate.
