Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the fact that his Department announced a £3 million grant to a company (details supplied) in County Louth in May 1999 and also granted a foreshore licence to the same company at a time when complaints of illegal dumping by this company were being considered by his Department, Louth County Council, and the Ombudsman; and the correspondence his Department had with the company in relation to the illegal dumping mentioned by the European Court of Justice's ruling against Ireland. [17286/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A foreshore lease was granted to the company in question in February 2002 in connection with proposed quay wall renovation works and associated berth dredging works. The area covered by this foreshore lease included an area in which the company had deposited material without prior foreshore authorisation and in respect of which complaints had been made to the Department.

The foreshore lease was granted in accordance with normal procedures and after full consideration of all relevant issues and concerns. There has been no correspondence between the Department and the company on the question of illegal dumping in the meantime.

The company made an application in February 1999 for grant aid under the operational programme for tourism 1994-99 in respect of refurbishment of the company's port facilities. In May 1999, the company was informed that its application had been successful and that a total project cost of €3.858 million was approved for up to 48% grant aid on eligible expenditure. This approval was subject to compliance by the company with specified conditions, including relevant environmental and other regulatory requirements. A total of €1.852 million in grant aid was paid to the company under the programme.