John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Following the enactment of the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act 2009, my Department assumed responsibility on 15 January 2010 for a range of foreshore functions, including all foreshore energy related developments, including oil, gas, wind, wave and tidal energy developments; aggregate and mineral extraction developments on the foreshore; foreshore projects in respect of port companies and harbour authorities governed by the Harbours Acts 1946, 1996 and 2000; foreshore projects in respect of any other harbour; harbour-related developments intended for commercial trade; and all other foreshore projects other than those relating to aquaculture and sea fisheries. In accordance with the Foreshore Acts, a lease or licence can be issued if it is in the public interest. At present, the processing of a foreshore application includes assessment of the application by the Department's internal technical advisers and, where necessary, the marine licence vetting committee that advises on scientific matters; consultation with statutory and non-statutory consultees, including relevant Departments and agencies; a period of public consultation, normally of 21 days; valuation of the site to be occupied by the applicant; and other public interest elements that may arise in particular cases. More than 700 foreshore applications for leases, licences and permits are currently being dealt with by my Department. The applications, which vary greatly in terms of the size of infrastructure project and level of complexity, also include a licence application from Dublin City Council for the construction of a water cooling channel to service the proposed waste to energy facility at Poolbeg. As the licence application in question is one of a large number at different stages of consideration under the foreshore consent process, my Department will be in contact with Dublin City Council on the matter as soon as possible.

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