Foreshore Licence Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017

Wednesday, 26 July 2017

Ceisteanna (1613)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

1613. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the Government's 35 year foreshore lease planning application to construct an offshore electricity generating station on Galway Bay embeds and fully implements the findings of the strategic environmental assessment and appropriate assessment processes relating to the State's offshore renewable energy development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36430/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

The application by the Marine Institute to develop a 1/4 scale ocean energy test device site off the coast of Spiddal in Galway Bay was made on the basis of this site being necessary to support the attainment by Ireland of the required EU targets for renewable energy for 2020, 2030 and 2050. Ireland’s Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) published in 2014, which was subject to both SEA and AA, identified the Galway Bay test site as a necessary step in the testing of ocean energy technology, sitting between in-tank testing (1/15 scale) at the Marine and Renewable Energy Ireland (MAREI) facility in Cork and full scale testing in open ocean conditions at the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) in Mayo.

A final decision has not yet been made on this application. However, that decision, when made, will take into account compliance with both the Foreshore Act and any applicable EU environmental legislation, including the Birds and Habitats Directives.