Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Dumping at Sea.

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

346 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the difference between licenses and permits granted for dredging or dumping in non-designated versus designated areas, particularly special areas of conservation and special areas for the protection of birds. [26609/03]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

347 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide the full monitoring report furnished to him under the last dredging and dumping permit granted to the Port of Waterford Company; and if this report shows beyond reasonable doubt that neither dredging nor dumping has had a significant effect on the designated rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir special area of conservation. [26610/03]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

348 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources that no permit for the dredging of material from the Waterford Harbour Belview swing basin be given until steps (details supplied) are taken. [26611/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 to 348, inclusive, together.

All applications for permits under the Dumping at Sea Act 1996 are subject to a rigorous assessment of their possible effects on the environment. Applicants are routinely required to submit detailed sediment analyses of the material proposed for dumping, and to prepare impact hypotheses and any other assessments considered necessary having regard to the nature and location of the proposed dumping.

The evaluation by the marine licence vetting committee of an application for a dumping at sea permit takes account of all relevant considerations and issues, including any designation of the area proposed as the location for dumping. The conditions and requirements attached to a permit would, as necessary, require further monitoring, or specify the times at which, or the manner in which, dredging or dumping may take place.

The monitoring report prepared as one of the conditions of the Port of Waterford company's recent dumping at sea permit has been received recently by my Department and is being examined by expert advisers. It will be made available to interested parties in due course.

All necessary examination and evaluation, including appropriate sediment analysis, was carried out before a dumping at sea permit was granted to the Port of Waterford company. Further dumping proposals will undergo similarly detailed scrutiny.