Mr. Noel Clancy:

Howth would be our case in point as regards the dredging experience and so forth. Any fishermen who use Howth have had a problem, particularly going into the trawler base now over the last number of years. The harbourmaster is restricting the size of vessels coming in there. I recognise that the committee had representatives from the RNLI at the previous session. Howth is one of their bases and we have a problem maintaining a clear exit from the harbour for them as well. On where the dredging is Howth is at, it is approximately three, going on four, years since we started on what I would call the dredging journey. We applied for planning permission to dredge the material and then rather than export it all to Sutton to a tip or whatever, our plan was to reuse it and extend the pier, which we felt was the more climate-friendly solution.

On the planning application, we were successful in getting planning but it was appealed and it went to the board, as it was at the time. We got planning permission from An Bord Pleanála in August 2024 but to reuse the material, we need a waste licence from the EPA. It speaks to what the Deputy is talking about that the EPA cannot really consider that until the planning is in place and that kicks off another process. We are waiting for the outcome of that waste licence and then we will be starting. It is three or four years in a process in a harbour that is severely restricted at the moment and possibly approaching health and safety issues with the RNLI. It is a concern we would share. I am not sure it is within my remit to deal with it but I would welcome if anything could be done with it.