Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
219. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when dredging will commence at Magheroarty Pier, Magheraroarty, Gortahork, County Donegal (details supplied); the reason the application has taken so long to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36235/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA foreshore license application was received by my Department in January 2021 for dredging in Magheroarty, Gortahork, County Donegal under the Foreshore Act 1933. The application (reference number FS007084) is available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/foreshore-notice/6da98-fs007084-application-for-foreshore-licence-for-dredging-and-beach-nourishment-at-magheraroarty-pier-co-donegal/ .
The application has already been the subject of a public consultation process that closed on 12 April 2021. I can confirm that the application is currently being environmentally assessed by the Marine Advisors within my Department. These assessments are required in order to meet the requirements of the Habitats Directive, Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, as well as specific requirements of the Foreshore Act 1933. Thereafter the application will be referred to the Marine License Vetting Committee (MLVC) for review. The MLVC is a non-statutory multi-disciplinary committee which is convened, as required, for the purposes of undertaking a technical assessment and an environmental assessment of an application under the Foreshore Act 1933. When this stage has been completed and the environmental and technical recommendations are made, my Department will make a submission to me for consideration, including the above recommendations, seeking a determination on the license application.
My Department has advised the applicant that the process times for foreshore licenses may vary from application to application depending on the nature of the works proposed, the complexity of the environmental reports to be considered and the nature of the engagement of the applicant with the process overall. It is not possible to be definitive about the timeline for the completion of the assessment of the timing of the recommendation of the MLVC. This is because on occasion, additional information is required from the applicant in order to complete the statutory assessments, and where these are significant it may be necessary to initiate another public consultation to inform the decision making.
In the case of this application, I understand that at the outset, the applicant was advised that it would not be possible complete the assessment of this application within three months which is when it is understood the applicant planned to commence the dredging works. In all cases, where applicants wish to undertake cyclical works such as planned maintenance or dredging, it is always advisable to submit the application well in advance of the desired date of commencement of works.
Notwithstanding this, my Department is actively working on progressing this application as quickly as possible and is aware of Donegal County Council’s desire to commence the works as soon as possible. Officials in my Department are in contact with the applicant and they are available to answer any questions the applicant may have.
