Dumping at Sea

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2015

Thursday, 1 October 2015

Ceisteanna (247)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

247. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application by Dublin Port to the Environmental Protection Agency to dump dredged materials off the south-east coast of Howth in County Dublin; the way in which his Department and its agencies will protect the newly designated United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation, UNESCO, biosphere status for Dublin over the next 5 to 10 years. [33736/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I understand that the Dublin Port Company submitted a Dumping at Sea permit application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 13 July 2015 relating to capital dredging at Dublin Port as part of the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment project. As the designated competent authority, the EPA will assess the application in accordance with the Dumping at Sea Act and will make a decision accordingly. Management of the Dublin biosphere rests with the appropriate local authorities and, in relation to its special areas of conservation, with my colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.