Vol. 527 No. 3
109 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has received an application from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to lift a restriction on the lease for Dún Laoghaire Baths; when he will lift the restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28491/00]
The portion of foreshore in question appears to be one which was leased by the board of trade to the then Kingstown Urban District Council under lease dated 1909.
My Department has been in correspondence and discussions with officials of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on this issue. The council has advised my Department that it is in the course of preparing a brief for a development of the baths under the tax incentive scheme and, subject to consultation and approval from the elected members of the county council, the type of development envisaged will be, probably, a combination of maritime recreational, shopping commercial or restaurant. Limited residential, in exceptional circumstances may be also permitted as part of a comprehensive mix of development. Officials of the council have recently sought a meeting with officials of my Department to discuss the matter further and this meeting will take place as soon as a mutually convenient date is agreed.
On the general issue of whether or not I am prepared to amend restrictive clauses in a lease, I have no objection in principle subject to being satisfied that the development proposed would not impact adversely on the marine environment. The Deputy will appreciate from the correspondence quoted above that development plans are very tentative and I can give no commitment at this stage.
My Department welcomes early consultation in relation to such projects and ultimately such pre-planning consultations speed the processing of applications for foreshore leases, licences and permissions. I need to have full details of development plans before I decide whether to approve.
