Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way in which a cardinal buoy was positioned on a diffuser in the tidal water of the River Suir without the diffuser having a foreshore licence; if a process or procedure exists for the decision to place buoys and if they were followed in this instance. [15575/06]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that South Tipperary County Council as part of a sewerage treatment project installed a diffuser in the Suir river without a foreshore licence; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that it obstructed the fishing operations of commercial snapnet men; and if his attention has further been drawn to other local authority projects which have proceeded in the tidal or coastal waters of the Barrow, Nore and Suir from 2002 to 2005. [15589/06]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of foreshore license applications received and granted in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005; the number and names of works completed by local authorities in tidal and coastal waters before the foreshore licenses were granted; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that South Tipperary County Council had placed a diffuser in the tidal river downstream of Carrick-on-Suir without a foreshore license which obstructs the fishing operations of snapnet fishermen; and the measures he intends to bring forward to address concerns of fishermen. [15594/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 201 and 203 together.

South Tipperary County Council has located outfall pipes, with diffusers, for the new Carrick-on-Suir waste water treatment plant in the River Suir. Representatives of snap net fishermen who operate on the River Suir expressed the view to the Department that the location of the outfall diffusers is likely to disrupt their operations by creating a snagging or fouling hazard for their nets. In light of these concerns, a report on the matter was obtained from the engineering division of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. The report advised that the outfall diffusers and the associated navigation buoy would have a minor effect on snap net fishing. Specifically, the report was of the view that any effect would be limited to a comparatively small area in the vicinity of the diffusers. The Department asked South Tipperary County Council whether it had any proposals to reconsider the location of the outfall pipes and diffusers. The council indicated that it had no such proposals. In view of the council's position on the matter, and as I am advised that any effects of the diffusers and the associated navigation buoy on fishing are localised and minor, I do not consider that action relating to their relocation is warranted. The Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport, which acts as an expert adviser to the Department on navigational issues, has advised that a buoy should be put in place to mark the location of the diffusers. This advice was conveyed to South Tipperary County Council by the Department. The outfall pipes and diffusers were installed by the council before the application for a foreshore licence had been determined. The formal granting of a licence is now being finalised. In the time available, it has not been possible to assemble the information on foreshore cases requested by the Deputy. The data is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.