BREMORE PORT

 

The following motion in the name Cllr. C. Byrne was proposed by Cllr. C. Byrne seconded by Cllr. P. Coyle;
 
“To ask the Manager to report on the implications for Fingal County  Council’s powers to determine the development of Bremore Port and adjacent lands in Balbriggan and Balscadden hinterland, arising from recent Government statements (January 21, 2008) with respect to the development of the port at Bremore, specially the forthcoming Harbours (Amendment) Bill, 2008, as outlined under the Main Heads of the Bill, as follows:
(i)                 The Harbours Act, 1996 provides for port companies to have regard to any relevant Government policy or guidelines in relation to the acquisition of land. It is considered appropriate in the interests of consistency and best practice that this provision should apply also to the disposal of land by such companies.
(ii)               Provision for the transfer of functions from the Minister for Transport to An Bord Pleanála in the context of the compulsory acquisition of land by port companies.
(iii)             This bill will include an amendment to allow Drogheda Port Company permission to alter the limits of the Port Company in order to facilitate the proposal to build a new port at Bremore.
(iv)              Provision for a clear legislative basis to underpin investment by port companies outside their current harbour limits.”
 
The following report by the Manager which had been circulated was considered;
           
“The County Development Plan local objective No.1 states “To facilitate and encourage the development of a new deep water port at Bremore in accordance with a Local Area Plan”. The development of Bremore Port will be subject to the rigours of the planning process viz. the requirement for:
 
  • A variation to the County Development Plan
  • A subsequent Local Area Plan, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment pursuant to the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive.
  • The development of the port itself falls within the definition of strategic transport infrastructure as defined in the 7th Schedule of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) (the “Strategic Infrastructure Act”). Accordingly, it is expected that the planning application for the development of the port itself will be considered and determined by An Bord Pleanála. 
  • There is at present a pre-application consultation process ongoing between Bremore Port Ireland and An Bord Pleanála for the development of a “Deepwater Port, Logistics Centre and Business Park”. It is the view of the Planning Department that the logistic and business park elements do not fall within the scope of the Strategic Infrastructure Act and this view has been expressed to An Bord Pleanála.
 
The Heads of the The Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008 suggests that the legislative amendments proposed are to accommodate the development of the new port at Bremore and inter-alia for the transferring of functions regarding the compulsory acquisition of land by port companies from the Minister for Transport to An Bord Pleanála. The proposed legislative amendments as indicated in the Heads of the Bill, do not suggest any diminution of powers of Fingal County Council as the local planning authority for Bremore and its adjacent hinterland.”
 
Following a prolonged discussion during which issues raised by the Members were responded to by Mr. Gilbert Power it was agreed that this matter be listed as a headed item for a future meeting of the Council. The Manager’s report was then noted.