John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the issue of Providence Resources application for a foreshore licence to drill for oil and gas in Dublin Bay has been referred to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Wicklow County Council as per remarks (details supplied) in Dáil Éireann on 28 February 2012; if he will also refer it to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in view of the fact that this issue is one for the whole city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13101/12]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the issue of Providence Resources application for a foreshore licence to drill for oil and gas in Dublin Bay has been referred to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Wicklow County Council as per remarks (details supplied) in Dáil Éireann on 28 February; if he will also refer it to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in view of the fact that the issue is one for the whole city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13098/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 59 together.

The consultation process on the application from Providence Resources for a foreshore licence in respect of site investigations and the drilling of an exploratory well off Dalkey included referral of the application to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and Wicklow County Councils. Submissions received from these and other public bodies have been published on my Department's website. I have consulted more widely than is required under the Foreshore Act in respect of this application. However, in light of the level of public interest, the proposal was referred to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council on 6 March 2012 specifying that they may make submissions within four weeks from that date.