Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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531. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 8 April 2014, if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form, by county, of the number of applications that have received ministerial approval and are with the Chief State Solicitor's office; the current longest waiting time of an application with the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22489/14]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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532. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 8 April 2014, if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form, by county, of the number of applications that have been progressed as far as possible; the current longest period of time that an application has remained in that situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22490/14]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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533. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 8 April 2014, if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form by county of the number of applications that are deemed by his Department as dormant; the number of those applications which are dormant specifically as a result of habitat directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22491/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 to 533, inclusive, together.

The breakdown by County of the different categories of foreshore consent applications is set out in tabular form.

A total of 122 foreshore consent applications that have received ministerial approval are currently with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) for drafting of the necessary legal agreements. Of these 122 applications, the longest period that an application has been with the CSSO is since November 2000. In this particular case a draft lease issued to the applicant for execution in January 2001. However, complexities subsequently arose that have delayed bringing the case to a conclusion.

The specific information requested relating to (1) the longest period of time that an application has been progressed as far as possible and is currently on hold and (2) the number of applications that are considered dormant specifically as a result of the Habitats Directive is not readily available. Applications are categorised as on hold for varying reasons such as if agreement cannot be reached on financial considerations or if proposals are under review by applicants. Applications are deemed dormant if applicants have not provided sufficient information to allow a determination that complies with legislative requirements, which may include obligations arising under the EU Habitats Directive, to be made. In general, there can be a number of gaps in the information submitted by applicants. However, the introduction by my Department of a mandatory pre-application consultation process has greatly improved the quality of applications in recent times and resulted in greater understanding by applicants of the requirements.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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534. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 8 April 2014, if he will provide a breakdown on the length of time that the 13 lease applications for offshore renewable energy projects are waiting to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22492/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The table details applications for all offshore renewable projects currently before my Department.

Consideration of foreshore applications for offshore energy developments, other than for site investigation works, was placed on hold by my Department pending the publication of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP). The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources published the OREDP in February 2014. All applications for offshore energy developments currently on hand in my Department will now be reviewed in the context of the plan and other relevant policy developments.