Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
1000. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the EPA will issue licences to remove and relocate material and rock dredged from a pier (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11969/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not clear from the question how it is intended to dispose of the materials referred to. If the intention is to dump the materials at sea, then a dumping at sea permit is required.
The Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act 2009 amended the Dumping at Sea Acts 1996 to 2006 so that certain functions relating to dumping at sea transferred from the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who was then responsible for Dumping at Sea legislation, to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since 2010, it is the function of the EPA to issue Dumping at Sea permits. The EPA exercises an independent statutory function in this regard and I have no role in the day to day administration of this system.
If the intention is to dispose of the material by any other means, this question would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. However, it should be noted that, generally, in terms of licensing and permitting, the EPA exercises an independent statutory function.
