Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will review the planning and consultation system as it relates to oil and gas finds in view of the experience with the Corrib gas find where the system of project splitting has worked to the disadvantage of the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26506/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I refute the Deputy's statement that project splitting has worked to the disadvantage of the local community. Where aspects of the development covered by legislation administered by my Department required consultation with local people, this was carried out in accordance with the requisite statutory provisions. The overall Corrib project required separate statutory approvals, consent and licences in respect of six separate elements under various legislative enactments. The elements of the project examined and approved within my Department's responsibility are as follows: under the Continental Shelf Act 1968, for construction of the offshore installation within the continental shelf designated areas, consent was given on 15 April 2002 by the then Minister for Marine and Natural Resources; under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960, the plan of development approval, subject to a number of conditions, was given on 15 April 2002 by the then Minister for Marine and Natural Resources; under the Gas Act 1976, as amended, consent was given on 15 April 2002 by the then Minister for Marine and Natural Resources for the construction of a gas pipeline from the gas field through the offshore up to the terminal building - this is an integral part of the plan of development approval of 15 April 2005; under the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended, a foreshore licence was granted by the then Minister for Marine and Natural Resources on 17 May 2002, in respect of the routing of the pipelines through the foreshore connecting the gas field to the land-based installation. I am satisfied that the regulatory processes were fully complied with.

My Department is currently reviewing the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960, as amended, with a view to producing an updated petroleum legislative framework, as well as the Continental Shelf Act 1968. While I have no direct responsibility for planning regulatory matters, planning laws or licensing matters concerning the Environmental Protection Agency, approval given by my predecessor in respect of the plan for development of the field was subject to a number of conditions. Amongst these was the requirement to obtain all necessary planning permissions and an integrated pollution control licence.