Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Foreshore Licences

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 868: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the process involved in the consideration of a foreshore licence application by his Department, from the receipt of the application by his Department to the issuing of the final decision to the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1118/10]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Following the enactment of the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act, 2009, my Department assumed responsibility on 15 January 2010 for the following: ·all foreshore energy-related developments (including oil, gas, wind, wave and tidal energy); ·aggregate and mineral extraction developments on the foreshore; ·foreshore projects in respect of port companies and harbour authorities governed by the Harbours Acts, 1946, 1996, and 2000, and foreshore projects in respect of any other harbour and harbour-related developments intended for commercial trade; ·all other foreshore projects, other than those relating to aquaculture and sea fisheries.

Further information is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie/en/foreshore.

In accordance with the Foreshore Acts, a lease or licence can only be issued if it is in the public interest. At present, the processing of a foreshore application includes the following: assessment of the application by the Department's internal technical advisors and, where necessary, the Marine Licence Vetting Committee which advises on scientific matters; consultation with statutory and non-statutory consultees, including relevant Departments and Agencies; a period of public consultation, normally 21 days;valuation of the site to be occupied by the applicant; other public interest elements that may arise in particular cases; obtaining necessary legal advice and Department of Finance sanction where appropriate.

Work is underway in my Department to modernise the foreshore regime with the aim of further integrating the foreshore consent process with the planning processes under the Planning Acts.

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