Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of offshore wind turbines that have been licensed; the number in the planning process; the provision made for public consultation on individual applications; the acceptable capacity and height for the turbines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14638/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The position in relation to leases and licences for Offshore Windfarms under the Foreshore Act 1933 is as follows:

A. There are currently three valid Foreshore licences for site investigation.

B. There are seven Foreshore licence applications for site investigation currently being processed.

C. Two Foreshore leases have been granted:

(i) In January 2002 a lease was granted to Sure Partners Ltd for the construction of a 200 turbine wind farm on the Arklow Banks. The maximum allowable height for the turbines in this project are 100m tip to sea level, each turbine will have a capacity of 2.5MW.

(ii) In November 2005, a lease was granted to Codling Wind Park Ltd for the construction of 220 wind turbines on the Codling Bank. The maximum allowable height for the turbines in this project are 100m tip to sea level, each turbine will have a capacity of 5MW.

D. There are three lease applications currently being considered.

(i) In January 2002 Kish Offshore Wind Ltd applied for a lease for the construction of a 75 turbine windfarm on the Kish Bank. The height of the turbines applied for in this project are 160m tip to sea level, each turbine will have a capacity of 2.3MW.

(ii) In January 2002 Bray Offshore Wind Ltd applied for a lease for the construction of a 70 turbine windfarm on the Bray Bank. The height of the turbines applied for in this project are 160m tip to sea level, each turbine will have a capacity of 2.3MW.

(iii) In February 2007 Oriel Windfarm Ltd applied for a lease for the construction of a 55 turbine wind farm off Dundalk Bay, The height of the turbines applied for in this project are 166m tip to sea level, each turbine will have a capacity of 6MW.

In relation to the above information it is important to note that the authorisation of offshore energy projects under the Foreshore Act is dealt with in two distinct phases. Under phase one, an application must be made for a foreshore licence for a defined area of the seabed in which to explore the viability and environmental sustainability of the development. The licensing stage does not require the developer to provide specific details of the turbines. The public consultation for a Foreshore Licence for an Offshore Electricity Generating Station lasts one month. The commencement of the public consultation process is advertised in national and regional newspapers and also generally placed on the Department's web site.

Where the site for which a licence has been granted proves suitable, an application may be made for a foreshore lease (phase two). The lease application process evaluates the project and its impacts in detail using specialist advisors, statutory and non-statutory consultees, and is followed by extensive public consultation. The current public consultation process for a Foreshore lease for an Offshore Electricity Generating Station lasts two months. Recent applications have seen over one hundred and twenty organisations consulted. The commencement of the public consultation is advertised in national and regional newspapers and also generally placed on the Department's web site.

The Government decided on 2 October 2007 that responsibility for foreshore licensing functions under the Foreshore Act 1933 for all energy developments (including oil, gas, wave, wind and tidal energy) on the foreshore would transfer to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. My Department is currently putting in place the necessary arrangements to ensure the efficient and effective transfer of the appropriate legislation and associated functions.