Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a project (details supplied) went before the local authority for planning. [37953/19]

Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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187. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a project (details supplied) went before the local authority for planning. [37954/19]

Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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188. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a project (details supplied) went before the local authority for planning. [37955/19]

Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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189. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a project (details supplied) went before the local authority for planning. [37956/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 189, inclusive, together.

I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that they are not aware of a project with the reference no. NSADF-17-003.

Project no. NSADF-17-014 provided funding for equipment for a youth angling initiative designed to facilitate access to angling activity. The project involved no physical works and therefore did not require Planning Permission. Applicants for works projects involving the disbursement of public funds are, in the first instance, required to ascertain whether any proposed works require planning permission from the relevant Planning Authority. This can be done with relative ease via a pre planning meeting with the Planning Authority or appropriate certification from a professional Engineer.

In relation to projects SCF-17-0005 and SCF-17-0006, both the professional Engineers, acting for the project applicants, certified that planning permission was not required.

I, as Minister, my Department or IFI have no function in the Planning Process and cannot set aside potential planning issues for applicants who basically refuse to meet the request of ascertaining whether their proposed works may require permission from a Planning Authority.

I again offer the Deputy a full briefing with Inland Fisheries Ireland in relation to fishery development project matters.