Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 630: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has proposals for the co-ordination of the foreshore licensing regime and the planning code in addition to other regulatory codes, where there is a clear need for greater simplification and co-ordination of regulations especially on issues such as the development of marinas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5180/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Government decided in October 2007 that responsibility for a range of matters relating, inter alia, to foreshore licensing, coastal zone management and sea fisheries should be transferred from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Certain functions relating to foreshore licensing in respect of particular harbours and for all energy developments, along with responsibility for coastal protection, coastal flooding and all other aspects of coastal zone management are to be transferred onwards to my Department, pending preparation of the necessary legislation by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

The transfer provides my Department with an opportunity to review existing foreshore legislation, and my officials have been examining the interface between the planning code and foreshore licensing with a view over the medium term to ensuring rigorous environmental controls in relation to foreshore licensing arrangements, and maximum coherence between foreshore licensing and existing land use/development consent procedures.