Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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249. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the names and the qualifications of his Department's internal technical advisers who will be assessing a foreshore lease application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7071/17]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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250. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to obtain legal advice from the Chief State Solicitor's office in relation to a foreshore lease application (details supplied), in view of the fact that many of the 555 public submissions to the foreshore application process relate to national and international legal concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7072/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together.

As I have previously indicated, Application FS006566 is solely in relation to a non-commercial test facility. Under this application, there will be no facility to export power from any of the devices being tested at the site.

I will make a decision on this case following careful examination and consideration of the application and supporting documentation and all views/comments received including those of the prescribed bodies and the public.

Internal advisers in my Department’s Water and Marine Advisory Unit are appointed to their roles on the basis that they have the appropriate professional qualifications and experience commensurate with my Department’s role in foreshore consenting. It is of course open to me as the Minister with responsibility for making the decision on this application to seek advices from whatever body I deem necessary in the determination of the application.

This matter has yet to come before me for decision and will only do so once the Marine Licence Vetting Committee has met and considered the matter.