Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details on the applications for foreshore leases in respect of offshore generating stations in Irish waters. [37029/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Two Foreshore Leases have been granted for offshore generating stations in Irish waters as follows. 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 is 100 m tip to sea level. Each turbine will have a capacity of 2.5 MW. 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 is 100 m tip to sea level. Each turbine will have a capacity of 5 MW.

My Department is processing four applications for Foreshore Leases for offshore generating stations in Irish waters as follows. In January 2002 Kish Offshore Wind Ltd applied for a lease for the construction of a 75 turbine wind farm on the Kish Bank. The height of the turbines applied for in this project is 160 m tip to sea level. Each turbine will have a capacity of 2.3 MW. This application is on hold pending receipt of an expanded Environmental Impact Statement.

In January 2002 Bray Offshore Wind Ltd applied for a lease for the construction of a 70 turbine wind farm on the Bray Bank. The height of the turbines applied for in this project is 160 m tip to sea level. Each turbine will have a capacity of 2.3 MW. This application is on hold pending receipt of an expanded Environmental Impact Statement.

In February 2007 Oriel Windfarm Limited applied for a Foreshore Lease for the purpose of constructing an offshore wind park in Dundalk Bay of up to 330 MW potential consisting of 55 turbines with tower height of up to 100 m and rotor diameter of up to 120 m. In May 2008 Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta applied for a Foreshore Lease for the purpose of constructing an offshore wind farm at Sceirde Mór in outer Galway Bay of up to 100 MW potential consisting of 20 turbines with tower height of up to 140 m and rotor diameter of up to 120 m.