Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to progress the backlog of foreshore applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10688/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Since the transfer of certain foreshore functions into my Department on 15 January 2010, significant work has been undertaken to improve the throughput of foreshore applications and to modernise the consent process involved. There are now 300 active applications for a lease or licence currently on hand. These applications vary in terms of size of project, level of complexity and state of progression through the foreshore consent process. Since the transfer of functions into my Department, 47 applications have been received, 46 have secured Ministerial approval and 30 leases and licence have been executed.

The short-term administrative and regulatory measures which have been developed to improve the throughput of foreshore applications include:

§ Introduction of a pre-application consultation process;

§ A scheme of prioritisation for all foreshore applications;

§ Development of standard operating procedures;

§ Drafting of guidelines for applicants in relation to engineering and habitats issues;

§ Draft regulations to put a time limit on consultations with prescribed bodies.

Work on the drafting of a General Scheme of a Bill to further improve the foreshore consent process is also progressing. It is intended that the Bill will, inter alia, integrate the foreshore consent process for major infrastructure projects within the strategic consent process operated by An Bord Pleanála, while the foreshore consent process for non-strategic infrastructure projects will be integrated within the wider planning consent process operated by the local authorities.