Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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19. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way the Dublin Bay UNESCO designated biosphere is being implemented; her views on the concerns of dumping from dredging over the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31994/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Dublin Bay Biosphere is led by Dublin City Council and managed by means of a partnership between the 3 local authorities in the bay area (Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Fingal County Council), my Department (through the National Parks and Wildlife Service) and the Dublin Port Company. This partnership model provides my Department with a welcome opportunity to work with other bodies and agencies to achieve its strategic objectives and specifically those concerning the promotion of biodiversity, conservation and related education. It also demonstrates the benefits of central and local government cooperation and collaboration. The Dublin Bay Biosphere represents a significant, exciting and unique opportunity to combine the interests of central and local government with those of the private sector and local businesses and communities in the Dublin Bay area. In the Programme for Government, we have placed much emphasis on the importance of tourism for the national recovery and specifically improving our tourism product. In this regard, I am confident that this biosphere project of international significance will bring much needed economic stimulus and employment opportunities to local communities in the Bay area.

This designation is a significant development for the Dublin Bay Area as it will provide the catalyst for local businesses and communities to demonstrate their green and conservation credentials and to explore and capitalise on the resulting commercial opportunities. It is expected that significant economic benefits will accrue from a UNESCO biosphere designation, through investment in heritage, culture, science and education and the promotion of sustainable products and services, and also sustainable tourism.

In addition to the promotion of conservation and biodiversity issues, the biosphere presents an opportunity to develop a unique brand identity for Dublin Bay to promote its amenity and recreation value. It presents a wonderful opportunity to promote Dublin as a city close to nature, providing a new incentive for people to visit the Dublin Bay area. It will augment the existing tourist attractions of Dublin City, attracting a new type of visitor, and as part of a multi-activity holiday will provide an added attraction that will encourage an extended length of stay and repeat visits from visitors in the valuable adventure tourism bracket.

In relation to dredging/dumping at sea proposals, it is the function of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue Dumping at Sea permits and Integrated Pollution Control licences. Applications for consent under the Foreshore Act for developments are administered by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. My Department’s role, as a consultee to these licensing processes, is to review the various proposals submitted by the consent authorities and provide recommendations and/or observations, if any, to the relevant consent authorities, for their ultimate decision.