Telecommunications Infrastructure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022

Tuesday, 14 June 2022

Ceisteanna (466, 467, 468, 469)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

466. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the pre-lay grapnel and route clearance operations along the route of the proposed sub-sea fibre optic cable system (details supplied) that is expected to be carried out from 31 May 2022 until 10 June 2022, as detailed in the Marine Notice 30 of 2022 issued by the Department of Transport; the details of the required statutory consents required prior to the activity commencement in order to ensure environmental protection; the statutory function of his Department relating to environmental protection and the proposed activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28960/22]

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

467. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has made a determination regarding foreshore licence application (details supplied) in relation to the authorisation of the proposed sub-sea fibre optic cable from Galway to Iceland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28961/22]

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

468. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the pre-lay grapnel and route clearance operations along the route of the proposed sub-sea fibre optic cable (details supplied) that is expected to be carried out from 31 May 2022 until 10 June 2022, if the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been consulted in relation to the proposed activities; if so, the observations that the National Parks and Wildlife Service made regarding the proposed activities' environmental impacts and the protection of the area in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28962/22]

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

469. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the authority that authorised the pre-lay grapnel and route clearance operations along the proposed route of the sub-sea fibre optic cable system (details supplied) that is expected to be carried out from 31 May 2022 until 10 June 2022; the environmental impact assessments that have been conducted in relation to this activity; the way in which the public can access information regarding the authorisation and environmental assessments conducted; the action that his Department intends to take to ensure that the activity in question has been granted lawful consent before activity commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28963/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Peter Burke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 466 to 469, inclusive, together.

I recently approved the granting of a licence under Section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 to Farice ehf. Limited following an application made to me in June 2021.

The granting of the licence follows a full and robust statutory assessment and several public consultations. Details of the application, assessment and related documentation including the various responses to the public consultation processes are available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/foreshore-notice/80172-iris-fibre-optic-cable-system-co-galway/.

Following engagement with the licence holder, it has been confirmed that the permitted works will not commence until 10 June 2022 which is consistent with the conditions of the licence.

The matter of Marine Notices and statutory requirements in the context are a matter for my colleague the Minister of Transport.

Question No. 467 answered with Question No. 466.