Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 987: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a statutory body to co-ordinate, manage, develop and protect the waters and lands surrounding Dublin Bay and to grant greater provision and protection of public amenities will be set up; if a master plan on building height and a coastal zone plan will be drawn up; and if he will work with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Minister for Transport on these matters. [14908/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The waters of Dublin Bay, along with the rivers that drain into it and the associated coastal waters and groundwaters, form part of the eastern river basin district for the purposes of the water framework directive which aims to protect and improve the quality of all waters within the European Union. Dublin City Council is the co-ordinating authority for the preparation of a single river basin management plan which must be prepared and adopted in the district by 2009 by all the relevant local authorities. In addition, there is close liaison by Dublin City Council for this purpose with numerous Departments and State agencies, including my Department; the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources; the Department of Agriculture and Food; the Office of Public Works; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Geological Survey of Ireland; and the Heritage Council.

Dublin City Council has a policy objective in its development plan to prepare a plan for Dublin Bay from and including North Bull Island and the South Wall and up to an including Sandymount, Merrion strand and Booterstown and also concentrated on the port area. The plan will identify and determine the role of that part of the bay as an economic, amenity, recreational, environmental and ecological resource. To progress this objective, Dublin City Council has established a multi-agency steering group, which includes representatives of my Department; the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources; the Department of Transport; and Dublin Port Company. It is expected that the city council, in conjunction with the steering group, will shortly commission a wide-ranging study of Dublin Bay, including the port area, with the aim of identifying and agreeing with key stakeholders a guiding framework for its future overall development.

In addition, I understand that the Dublin regional authority, in a separate initiative, is proposing to establish a Dublin Bay association with a view to producing a master plan for Dublin Bay, including the port area. As an initial step in the process, the Dublin regional authority recently organised a series of discussions for consideration of the various issues involved. My Department will continue to liaise with other relevant Departments, agencies, local authorities and regional authorities in this matter.