Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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198. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide copies of the environmental appropriate assessment and the environmental impact assessment reports for the original ten year foreshore lease granted to the Marine Institute in 2006 for the wave energy test site in Spiddal, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33470/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2006, the then Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources was responsible for the regulation of the foreshore under the 1933 Foreshore Act. The application for the original 10 year lease was processed by that Department. Following a search of the foreshore records, my Department has not been able to locate the environmental assessment reports requested in respect of the granting of the 2006 lease. Therefore at this point in time, it is not possible to provide the information requested.

My Department will make further enquires to include the Departments who held responsibility for the foreshore function at the time of the original application in 2005 and will subsequently contact the Deputy on the outcome of these further searches.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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199. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the UNESCO world heritage Burren and Cliffs of Moher site was excluded from the environmental impact assessment screening process in relation to a foreshore lease application (details supplied) to construct an offshore electricity generating station on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33471/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently awaiting comments from the applicant in respect of the 555 public submissions received by my Department during the public consultation period before undertaking any such assessment. The next stage in the process is that the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC), an ad hocmulti-disciplinary advisory body, will undertake a technical evaluation of the application and the accompanying supporting documentation. All aspects of the application and its supporting documentation together with any issues raised by the public, prescribed bodies or other interests will be carefully considered by the MLVC within the context of the applicable legislative framework (including EIA and Appropriate Assessment legislation).