Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to dispose of the waste materials which will be removed during the dredging works at Killybegs Pier in County Donegal; the action he will take to ensure that all waste is disposed of in a safe and environmentally conscientious manner; if he is aware of the reputational and environmental damage which Killybegs may sustain should these materials be disposed of out at sea within close proximity to the coastal town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6447/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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. Any material that is determined to exceed the environmental standards set for sea disposal will not be dumped at sea and accordingly reputational or environmental damage will not arise in this regard. 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.