Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I might take the scenic route but I will make my point. I have seen clusters of houses receive licences to discharge to rivers and streams and there is a case in my constituency where the lakes are polluted as a result. This is why these functions being transferred to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government does not make me feel any more secure.

This is more a question to the Minister of State, and I ask him to refer to it. Will foreshore licences be required for emergency works to deal with coastal erosion? Unfortunately, in my constituency there are three peninsulas and coastal erosion is a big issue for us. I put that question because it happened in my constituency where emergency works had to be carried out. If they had not been carried out the road into west Kerry would have been eroded. Referring to the licence applied for five years ago which has yet to be granted, if, in the interests of the public, they had to apply for a foreshore licence to undertake those emergency works, with the choking in the system I wonder what the outcome would be.

On dredging, another aspect of the Bill, I refer to where loughs or harbours are dredged and the material is to be brought to sea. As Deputy Creed stated, we were in Donegal recently. We were on Lough Foyle where there are 80,000 tonnes of material to be dredged. They have a licence within the lough to dump 15,000 tonnes but the small dredger that has gone in there is not capable of doing what needs to be done. Hence, the entire result of that dredging will be dumped on this site that has been specified for 15,000 tonnes. There will be 80,000 tonnes dumped in the lough on that site which has a licence for 15,000 tonnes. I tabled a question on who has jurisdiction over Lough Foyle - I hoped it would be answered today but that has not worked out. If the EPA is taking over this responsibility, will it have an interest in Lough Foyle? In Lough Foyle there are mussel fishermen and oyster fishermen, and where this dredged material is to be dumped is very near where the mussels and oysters are being cultivated. It will be detrimental on those two industries. The dredged material was supposed to go to sea.

I question the input of the marine licence vetting committee. I was told by officials that when local authorities had jurisdiction over dredging, they could apply on a Thursday evening for a licence they wanted on Saturday morning and, in fairness, the officials informed me that they went through the process rapidly and ensured that the dredging went ahead. Does the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, know what is happening on Lough Foyle? Is it happening elsewhere? Will the EPA be involve, and are the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the Environment, Heritage and Local Government involved in what is happening on Lough Foyle at present?

The transfer of responsibility for dumping at sea to the EPA is a positive aspect of the Bill. As the Minister of State said in his speech, the EPA is the protector of our environment and of our waters. Have there been many cases of illegal dumping of sea? I wonder what monitoring to date has been carried out and what policing of illegal dumping at sea there has been to date.

Deputy Creed mentioned the opportunities for wind, wave and tidal power. I also raised with Department officials the plans for a hydroelectric power station in my constituency. Although the project is very much in its infancy, it is exciting. There will be a three-year construction phase and an investment of €1 billion, as well as many jobs. It would be very good for the area. I am not a scientist but the proposal is there and the site has been identified. I would do anything I could to ensure that such an investment of €1 billion over three years went ahead for my constituency.

In fairness to the departmental officials, they were very positive, but they automatically threw 25 questions at me from various Departments, including the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Can we not simplify this process whereby the hydroelectric-powered generating station could go ahead? It should not have to go through a multitude of agencies to get up and running.

If at all possible, applications for foreshore licences should be dealt with like planning applications for houses whereby environmental impact studies and other work must be done prior to construction. Can a timeframe be set for decision dates? In the aquaculture sector in my own area, people bought boats and funding was sanctioned by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, but they cannot draw down the money because they cannot obtain an aquaculture licence. We should simplify the process to move it on. I would welcome that, but I have reservations.

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