Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 5

Written Answers - Dublin Port.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

171 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will reassure residents who live in the pathway of the Dublin Port tunnel that the conditions which he has imposed on the port tunnel preclude the addition of facilities for fuel pipelines being laid in conjunction with this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13091/01]

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

172 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in respect of his recent decision to include an official of his Department on the Task Force examining future options for Dublin Port, he will set out the views of his Department in relation to the construction of fuel pipelines through residential areas and the lack of any specialised monitoring authority to deal with the health and safety issues of such a pipeline; and if he will consider recommending to the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources the appointment of additional experts in environmental and amenity protection in an effort to strengthen the environmental strength of the task force which is currently dominated by commercial port interests. [13092/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Question Nos. 171 and 172 together.

On 22 December 1999, I approved the Dublin Port tunnel motorway scheme and environmental impact statement subject to modifications, designed mainly to prevent and mitigate environmental and construction impacts. The scheme does not include provision for the laying of fuel pipelines. The provision or laying of underground fuel pipelines, excluding gas pipelines which require consent under the Gas Acts, is development within the meaning of the planning Acts and therefore requires planning permission. Where a pipeline exceeds the thresholds in the first schedule to the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 1999, an environmental impact assessment is also required. My Department will be participating, at the request of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, in a task force to address transport logistics in connection with ports, including Dublin port. All issues affecting my Department's brief, including environmental issues, will be monitored in this context.