Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the changes he will make to the consent system for energy developments on the foreshore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41688/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has responsibility for foreshore functions under the Foreshore Acts 1933 to 2005. When considering applications under the Foreshore Acts, including offshore energy projects, the primary role of my Department is to ensure the protection and sustainable development of the foreshore. A consolidation and streamlining of the Foreshore Acts has been under consideration for some time. This is intended to provide a modern, effective and integrated legal framework for the management of the State's foreshore estate in the future. Preparation of these proposals will to take account, among other things, of the EU Public Participation Directive, the principles in the EU Recommendation on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, the outcome of the EU Maritime Green Paper, the EU Marine Strategy Directive and the EU Roadmap on Maritime Spatial Planning.

The Government decided on 2 October 2007 that responsibility for certain foreshore licensing functions under the Foreshore Act 1933 including in respect of all energy related developments would transfer to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This transfer of responsibilities requires the enactment of new foreshore legislation which was published on 10th November. The Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 will give effect to the transfer of the functions referred to, and it is my intention to introduce the legislation to the Oireachtas as soon as possible this term.

In the interest of efficiency and effectiveness it is considered appropriate that the review of the Foreshore Acts should await the completion of the transfer of the relevant elements of the Foreshore functions to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This is particularly important in view of the fact that both departments will have responsibility for different aspects of Foreshore management. I look forward to working closely with the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the context of progressing the various elements required to develop the appropriate modernisation of the foreshore legislative and management framework.