Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government confirmed on 22 April this year that it had given preliminary approval for a foreshore licence for an LNG project in Tarbert, County Kerry, the application for which was made two years prior to that. The project was unveiled in 2006. It was held up during that period primarily by objections despite the fact that it was one of the first projects to be fast-tracked under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act. It was the subject of two oral hearings by An Bord Pleanála, in both of which the decision was to give the project the go ahead. There is great concern about the delay regarding the foreshore licence. We understand it is due to legal details concerning the licence. We were told in April of this year that it would only take a few weeks to rectify the matter.

This project is of huge importance to north Kerry in particular, given that the rate of unemployment in this area as well as west Limerick at approximately 25% is twice the national average rate. It is hoped that this project will create approximately 400 jobs in the long term, which would be invaluable to this area and community. It is particularly important given that there has been a haemorrhage of jobs in Tralee and Listowel in north Kerry during the past seven or eight years. The workforce in that area was very dependent on the construction sector. That is the reason many young men got work in the construction sector but most of them are now unemployed.

We would welcome if the Minister of State could confirm that the legal difficulties delaying this project, which is what we understand are delaying it, would be dealt with speedily and that the project would be given the go ahead. I stress the importance of this project for north Kerry and west Limerick. Members of all parties are working collectively to create an environment to enable people to get back to work.

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