Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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295. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the action being taken in respect of removal of materials from the bed of a tidal area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28773/13]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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296. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the action being taken by National Parks and Wildlife in respect of removal of materials from the bed of a tidal area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28775/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 296 together.

An Order under section 6 of the Foreshore Act 1933 is necessary in this case. In January 2013, my Department sought further advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the application of section 6 . A reply is awaited.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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297. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if plans are underway in his Department regarding the reform of the Foreshore Act 1933 regarding his role/authority to award foreshore leases for construction in Irish coastal waters out to 12 nautical miles from the coast; if any reforms are underway; if they will require amendments to the Planning Acts; if any reforms will deviate power from him and if so, to whom; if local authorities will be brought into any such decision-making regarding construction in Irish coastal waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28834/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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In line with the commitments in the Programme for Government and Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth, my Department is currently developing a general scheme of a Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill. It is intended that the proposed legislation will align the development consent aspects of the foreshore system with the planning system operated by planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála.

Under the proposed arrangements, responsibility for development consent for projects in the foreshore or the wider maritime area which are of a strategic nature, or which require an Environmental Impact Assessment or an Appropriate Assessment, would be transferred to An Bord Pleanála. Local authorities in coastal areas would be responsible for granting development consent in respect of smaller projects adjacent to the shore and for licensing certain activities.

These proposals were the subject of a public consultation process earlier in 2013. Over 200 submissions were received from a broad range of stakeholders including public authorities, companies, environmental NGOs, trade and industry representative bodies , and the public generally . The majority of the submissions which addressed the subject matter of the consultation exercise were broadly supportive of the thrust of the Department's proposals.