Mr. Tom Coughlan:

Applications to An Bord Pleanála should be those that require an environmental impact statement. That is straightforward. It is what is proposed in the Bill. There is a difference between what I am suggesting and what is proposed in the Bill. It is not just development in the nearshore area that requires an environmental impact statement that must go to An Bord Pleanála but also development in the foreshore area, which is beyond the nearshore area. An application that does not require an environmental impact statement, in the foreshore area, could be dealt with by local planning authorities rather than having to go to An Bord Pleanála. If it does not require an environmental impact statement in a marine environment, it is probably a small-scale development that could be developed and dealt with by the local authority.

With regard to consent, I welcome head 21 of the Bill because it deals with a process whereby permission can be given by the local authority for particular activities to be carried out on the foreshore. To a certain extent, it deals with minor licence issues. Local authorities cannot make by-laws in regard to the regulation of the foreshore and the nearshore. I welcome that. There is a mechanism for dealing with smaller permits rather than smaller developments. I am concerned about the smaller developments going to An Bord Pleanála.