Vol. 511 No. 5
17 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to a recent resolution of Dublin City Council to initiate procedures to breach the Bull Island causeway at Dollymount, Dublin 3; the procedures necessary in his Department if this breach is to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22204/99]
The possibility of breaching the causeway to the Bull Island has been considered by Dublin Corporation on a number of occasions over the years and I am aware of the most recent resolution.
As outlined in previous replies to the Deputy, in the event that Dublin Corporation, or any other party, wish to undertake any work on or impacting on the foreshore it will be necessary, under the Foreshore Acts, 1933-98, for it to obtain a foreshore lease, licence or permission as appropriate.
Application for a foreshore lease, licence or permission must be accompanied by copies of all drawings and plans relating to the proposed works. It is likely from the wording of the resolution that an environmental impact statement, an EIS, would also be required. Plans and other documentation submitted are examined at administrative and technical level within my Department to assess the impact of the proposed works on coastal erosion, accretion, navigation, safety at sea, fishing and fish stocks, etc. Further detail may be requested, if required. Assuming there is no objection to the proposed works the issue is put to public consultation.
The public consultation period is 21 days where an EIS is not required and one month where an EIS is required. In the event of any objections being made during the consultation period, the applicant would be given an opportunity to respond to the objections. It would then be a matter for me, in the light of all the available information, to decide whether to offer terms of a foreshore lease, licence or permission. Should such an offer be made and the terms accepted, a formal legal document will then issue.
The foregoing outlines the procedure which Dublin Corporation will have to undergo before it can commence any work on the foreshore at the Bull Island causeway.
The Bull Island is designated by Dúchas as an area of special protection. It will be necessary, therefore, for the corporation to consult with and obtain the approval of that body before undertaking any work. The corporation will have to comply with any requirements for the protection of flora and fauna which Dúchas may impose arising from its obligations under the birds and habitats directives of the European Union, and also comply with any requirements which Dúchas may impose for the protection of the archaeological heritage of the areas in question.
I will allow one supplementary question from Deputy Callely and a reply from the Minister.
Much progress has been made via Dublin Corporation on the breach of the causeway. Breaching the causeway has been talked about since it was built in 1964, and that is what should have been done in the first place. The corporation has reached a satisfactory resolution to initiate the breach. In light of that fact, we recognise that the Department and Dúchas have a role to play
A question please, Deputy.
Is the Minister is a position to make funding available for the initial benchmark, flora and fauna and environmental impact studies, to which he referred? A relatively small sum is required in terms of the Department's budget. Will the Minister open a direct line of communication between himself and his officials and Mr. Philip Maguire, assistant city manager, Dublin Corporation, to progress the matter to a satisfactory conclusion?
The Deputy will know that Mr. Maguire had a meeting with a principal officer from the Department in connection with this matter and the general requirements. I would like to see the matter resolved and that will require the Department to sit down with Dublin Corporation to consider the various issues. I would be happy to arrange meetings to further that process. We will have to look at the issue of moneys. This is a major problem and a major issue. Certain scoping would have to be carried out which would cost some money. The corporation has had an informative meeting which gave a good deal of the kind of information we have here. If it decides on the options it wishes to pursue I will give any assistance I can.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
