Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 5

Written Answers. - Port Development.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

33 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the issues considered when a port company makes an application to his Department pursuant to section 10 of the Foreshore Act, 1993, for reclamation works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24727/99]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

41 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the position of the application by Dublin Port Company for an offshore licence to fill in 52 acres in Dublin Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24748/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 41 together.

The position is that, when a body makes application to my Department for a foreshore lease, licence or permission under the Foreshore Acts 1933-1998, the application and supporting documents are considered by my Department and its specialist advisors. Where appropriate, the Marine Institute and the Central and-or relevant regional fisheries board are also consulted. All applications and supporting documentation are also copied to Dúchas to ascertain if, having regard to its statutory obligations to protect special areas of conservation, habitats, national monuments, including marine archaeological artefacts, etc. it has any objection in principle to the proposed development.

Assuming that there is no objection in principle from either my Department or the other consultees any further information required is obtained from the applicant and the matter is then put to public consultation. Where the development is of a minor nature the consultation period is one of 21 days or, where an environmental impact statement, is required, a statutory one month period is required. Following the consultation period any objections or comments communicated to my Department are copied to the applicant for a response. Both objections and comments and the applicant's response thereto are considered by the Department and its specialist advisors. When this process is completed my officials make a submission to me in which they outline the detail of the proposed development, summarise the content of the objections and the applicant's response and make a recommendation. After careful consideration I make my decision in the matter.

This outlines the process which is being undertaken in the case of the proposed reclamation of 21 hectares in Dublin port. The EIS has been published. The port company advertised its intention and the availability of documentation for inspection in bothThe Irish Times and Irish Independent on 1 October. The documentation was available for inspection at both the company's offices and Store Street Garda Station. Over 400 objections or observations have been received and have been copied to Dublin Port Company for its response. When the company's response has been received it will be considered in conjunction with the comments and objections. I should stress that, while the bulk of the comments have opposed the proposed development, there have been a number in favour.

As the foreshore in question is owned by the port company what is required under the Foreshore Acts for the reclamation is a foreshore permission. My remit in the case of a foreshore permission is confined solely to considering the implications for navigation, fishing and the environment.