John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1263. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the preparation of the application for substitute consent to An Bord Pleanála for the development of the deep-water quay project at Ros a Mhíl, County Galway. [11178/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The project to construct the Deep Water Quay in Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre commenced in January 2023 and was proceeding to plan. The planning permission granted was due to expire in July 2023, before the works would be completed, and consulting Engineers for the Department prepared and applied for an extension to the Planning Authority, Galway County Council, in May 2023. An extension of 5 years was granted in July 2023.

In November 2023, the Department received notice of a Judicial Review taken by an Environmental NGO challenging the decision to extend the Planning Period. This Department was a Notice Party only to the proceedings. The Judicial Review was heard in the High Court in October 2024. An order of certiorari was issued, quashing the planning decision of Galway County Council to extend the duration for the Deep Water Quay development.

Department consultants are now completing two Environmental Impact Assessment Reports, along with all required design and planning documentation for a Substitute Consent application to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála (ABP). The consultants commenced this work in August 2024 and the Department expects to submit the application in July 2025. The focus is to prepare and submit a robust application that addresses all issues. The process can take up to 12 months and longer, subject to the nature of a project, review of existing baseline information and completion of any required surveys which may have seasonal constraints. Timelines can also be driven by the required consultations with ABP and other statutory bodies including Galway County Council.