Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O'Donoghue for the presentation, which was informative and which will help the committee as we consider the Bill. I can speak from experience with regard to local authorities trying to acquire a foreshore licence where a sewerage scheme was being developed. I come from Waterford and Ms O'Donoghue is probably aware of the seven villages sewerage scheme. I was a member of the local authority at the time. Ms O'Donoghue can correct me if I am wrong but the amount of bureaucracy and the difficulty in acquiring a foreshore licence for what seemed to be a logical development to improve water quality in towns and villages throughout County Waterford was extraordinary. The difficulties in acquiring the foreshore licence stalled much of the development for many years. Will the new Bill address many of the problems that may have been faced in that scenario? For example, for the foreshore licence to be acquired, approval was required from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There was cross-cutting bureaucracy between Departments. Perhaps I am being somewhat unfair - Ms O'Donoghue can correct me if I am wrong - but that is how it seemed to me as a local authority member at the time. Will the new Bill address that type of scenario and allow developments that are in the public interest to proceed at a more logical rate?

Ms O'Donoghue referred to dredging exemptions and navigational channels and suggested it would be good for ports. Are the larger harbours in the country included? Are there any exemptions for them? I know Dunmore East in Waterford rather well. It badly needs to be dredged and that has been acknowledged by everyone, including the Government. It is simply a matter of finding the funding. Would Dunmore East be exempt if dredging in the harbour area has to be carried out?

Ms O'Donoghue referred to the delays with maritime spatial planning. Concern has been voiced at the committee by various groups that there is no maritime spatial planning for the water surrounding Ireland. There has been criticism that some development has taken place offshore unbridled or without proper oversight because we do not have a plan. The point has been made that the Department maintains environmental impact assessments will have to be considered and strategic environmental assessments carried out, but if there is no plan to which to refer, how relevant are they or how can they be assessed? Are we, in effect, putting the cart before the horse?

Ms O'Donoghue stated it would take some time for the plan to be developed. We are all reasonable people and we realise the work involved in a maritime spatial plan in particular will necessarily take time. Can Ms O'Donoghue explain why it would take a considerable amount of time, especially since we have at our disposal the various institutes and agencies of the State? I would have thought it should be a priority and that it should not take that long.