Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 April 2017
295. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 on 1 March 2017, the details of the role, operation and membership of the MLVC in respect of a foreshore lease application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17689/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra296. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason no environmental impact statement was lodged with a 35-year foreshore lease application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17690/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra297. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a decision will be made regarding foreshore lease application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17691/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 295 to 297, inclusive, together.
The Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) is a multi-disciplinary standing committee which has provided scientific, technical and engineering advice on applications for foreshore consent for the past three decades.
The Chair of the MLVC is Mr Richard Cronin, Senior Adviser in my Department's Water and Marine Advisory Unit. Internal advisers within the Department’s Water and Marine Advisory Unit are appointed to their roles on the basis that they have the appropriate professional qualifications and experience commensurate with the Department’s role in foreshore consenting. I am satisfied that the MLVC, as constituted, has the requisite expertise to carry out its assessment of the application within the context of the applicable legislative framework (including Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment legislation).
A letter detailing the role and full membership of the MLVC for the purposes of assessing this application (details supplied) issued recently from my office to the Deputy.
With respect to the application as provided by the applicant, I can confirm that details of the application, including environmental reports and other supporting documentation submitted by the applicant, are available for viewing on the Department’s website at: http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applications/marine-institute-spiddal. The matter of the completeness of the documentation provided by the applicant forms part of the assessment of the application by the MLVC.
With respect to the progression of the application, my Department would expect to be in a position to progress the application to decision stage shortly. The Chair of the MLVC has recently confirmed that it will require a further period for the MLVC to complete its role in the assessment of the application and the submission of the final report.
