Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

290. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which circumstances have changed to enable dredging immediately north of Smooth Point at the Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre in County Donegal, as in his recent proposal, when during its construction it was deemed too contaminated for dredging and for disposing of at sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5771/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.

My Department is currently progressing a project for a proposed pier extension at Smooth Point on the new pier at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre. As part of the design process the consulting engineers are engaging with interested bodies and local organisations regarding the proposed project. The project will include the dredging of a quantity of silt, gravel and rock.

During the previous harbour development project completed in 2004, the sediments in this location were examined and some areas were deemed to exceed the chemical limits acceptable for disposal at sea. A chemical re-evaluation of the sediments was carried out in 2015 and early 2016, as part of the current development proposal. Results currently indicate that at least 85% is suitable for disposal at sea, subject to EPA approval. The reduction in the degree of contamination has occurred naturally in the intervening period, as would have been expected.

My Department intends to submit a Dumping At Sea Application to the Environmental Protection Agency in the coming months. For material intended to be dredged that proves to be unsuitable for disposal at sea, other options are being considered, including disposal on land or other remediation measures. The issue of disposal of quantities of contaminated dredge spoil is a matter which is regularly encountered in marine dredging works. A variety of appropriate solutions exist to address such situations.