Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 972: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will monitor a proposal (details supplied). [11798/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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As Minister, I am precluded under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 from exercising any power or control in relation to any individual planning application or appeal with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. However, in the event that an application is received in respect of the project referred to, the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 requires the Board to notify Dublin City Council, as the planning authority within whose area the proposed project would be situated, that an application for strategic infrastructure development has been received. The Act requires the Manager of the relevant planning authority to prepare a report on the likely effects of the proposed development on the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. The views of the elected members of the planning authority must also be sought and attached to the Manager's report. In making a determination on such an application, the Board is required to consider this report.

It should also be noted that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a Dublin Bay Area Task Force to maximise the potential of the Bay for the people of the capital city. The terms of reference of the Dublin Bay Task Force will encompass a broad range of environmental, economic, social and heritage issues and should build on and take account of the work undertaken by Dublin City Council and relevant stakeholders in relation to Dublin Bay. Any relevant decisions of An Bord Pleanála in relation to Dublin Bay will be taken into account by the Task Force in due course. The Government commitment in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 to undertake a comprehensive study of the role of Dublin Port "in the context of overall ports policy on the island of Ireland, wider transport policy, urban development policy, the National Spatial Strategy and national economic policy", which will be led by the Department of Transport, is also relevant in this regard. The advertisement for the appointment of consultants to undertake the study was issued on 14 March 2008.