Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 December 2015
193. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the regulations that she has laid down on the cleaning of rivers, if she will review these regulations, given the recent flooding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45487/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. These Directives ensure the protection of endangered habitats and species, which have been selected for conservation within Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas. These Directives have been transposed into Irish law, primarily through the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.
Under these Regulations, my consent, as Minister, may be required in some instances for alteration to the bed or banks of watercourses and waterbodies. However, in most cases, such works require the consent of other authorities, such as the Office of Public Works. In undertaking or consenting to works, the relevant authorities must comply with the legal obligations of the relevant EU Directives, as transposed into Irish law.
In the exercise of their functions, all public authorities have a responsibility to ensure the conservation of protected habitats and species and to ensure Ireland’s compliance with its legal obligations.
In order to address the legal complexity, my Department worked closely with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Office of Public Works, local authorities and other agencies of the State that have responsibilities regarding those Directives and Acts to address as expeditiously as possible the steps that needed to be taken to address the damage caused by storms and flooding in late 2013 and 2014. This led to the publication of a “Guide to Works and Development Consents for Repairing Infrastructure Damaged in Storms or other Emergency Events ”. This guide was published in early 2014 by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Planning, with input and advice from several Departments, including my own Department.
In the context of the recent floods, my Department has been attending the meetings at the National Emergency Coordination Centre to contribute, as appropriate to the response.
