Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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68. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will formulate an industrialisation plan for the Shannon estuary; if he has reviewed the handling of the Shannon liquified natural gas project; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39634/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Given the extensive nature of the Shannon Estuary, it adjoins three local authorities i.e. Clare County Council, Limerick City and County Council and Kerry County Council, who coordinate and control land-use planning and development on its landward sides. Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) has statutory responsibility for all commercial maritime activities on the Shannon Estuary. A Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary was developed by Clare County Council, Kerry County Council, Limerick City and County Councils, Shannon Development (now part of the Shannon Group ) and Shannon Foynes Port Company and published in November 2013. Implementation of the plan is overseen by a multi-agency Steering Group comprising of:

- Clare County Council (lead authority)

- Kerry County Council

- Limerick City & County Council

- Shannon Commercial Properties

- Shannon Foynes Port Company

- National Parks and Wildlife Service

- Marine Institute

- Environmental Protection Agency

- Office of Public Works

- National Monuments Service

- Limerick Clare Energy Agency

- Inland Fisheries Ireland

- EirGrid

- Shannon Airport

- Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

- Shannon International River Basin District Project

The plan identified key strategic locations for industrial development which take into account the fact that the entire Estuary is also designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) – a wildlife conservation area, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level – under the Habitats Directive. A large part of the estuary – around the Fergus Estuary – is also designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) – as part of a network of sites across Europe that are protected under the Birds Directive.

The Shannon Estuary is home to a number of large industries and employers including ESB Moneypoint, Aughinish Alumina, Tarbert Power Station and Shannon Airport. As further key strategic locations become zoned for development, these sites will become available for appropriate development and will be marketed by the IDA for Marine related activities.

Shannon LNG currently has on option with Shannon Commercial Properties to buy a site in Ballylongford, Shannon Commercial Property is part of the Shannon Group which comes under the remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourist and Sport. Energy Policy comes under the remit of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative was launched in February of this year and aims to identify a range of actions which will help each region to achieve its economic potential. The Mid-West Action Plan for Jobs, which covers the Shannon region, was published on 19th October. Led by my Department, the Plan is the fourth of 8 regional jobs plans to be published as part of a new €250 million regional jobs strategy, and aims to deliver employment growth of 10-15% in the region by 2020.