Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 21 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 4

Written Answers. - Coastal Zone Management.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

108 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the establishment of the coastal zone management; when he expects to appoint a senior civil servant from within his Department to take charge of this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28925/01]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

130 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when the Government will launch its coastal zone management policy and coastal zone management legislation which is understood to be drafted by his Department. [29201/01]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 130 together.

The priority focus in respect of the coastal zone in recent years has been on the introduction of new legislation and frameworks in relation, inter alia, to planning and development, aquaculture licensing and regulation frameworks and dumping at sea parameters, and on locally-based initiatives, including the Bantry Bay coastal zone charter and co-ordinated local aquaculture management systems, CLAMS. The key objective now is the development of new frameworks to address interactions between sectors, agencies and legal frameworks which will deliver a more integrated approach to coastal zone management.

The articulation of an integrated coastal zone management strategy and legislative framework will be taken forward in co-operation with all the relevant Departments and agencies, including the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. The strategic framework will be informed by national and international ICZM research and experience to date and will take account of the EU recommendation on the implementation of ICZM, agreed by the Council of Environment Ministers in October 2001. In so far as my Department's responsibilities are concerned, the intention is to bring forward legislative proposals next year. In that context my Department intends early in the new year to assign specific responsibility at Assistant Secretary level for organisational change and integrated coastal management policy.