The EU's Habitats and Wildlife Directives which have proved to be so controversial in the west should be renegotiated, according to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey.
The current system relating to environmentally sensitive areas is "too restrictive" and is causing "huge delays in planning", the Minister said. He was speaking in Rossaveal in Co Galway late last month, where he announced a €29 million development of the fishery harbour was "on target".
Dúchas, the Heritage Service, had a limited ability to deal with the number of cases before it in relation to planning approval in such areas, Mr Fahey said. Dúchas had intervened in the Rossaveal harbour development and the delay meant that much of the €8.9 million allocated for the first phase last year was not spent.
The Dúchas intervention related to use of a quarry in south Connemara to deliver filling material for the foreshore at Rossaveal. The heritage service said the quarry at Bó Bhrocháinnear Casla was located in a Special Area of Conservation. However, Mr Fahey said Dúchas had now agreed to exclude the quarry from the SAC area.
He described the plan for Rossaveal as one of the most ambitious marine developments to take place in Galway. It would ensure that it had "all the necessary infrastructure to establish the busy harbour as a key marine and fisheries centre for the west coast", he said.
Planning permission for the project would be sought in the coming month and the project would involve construction of a 200 metre-long deepwater quay with a depth of eight metres at low water. It would also involve provision of new ferry berths and a breakwater, as well as an additional 53 metres of berthage for small boats.
A total of 50,000 square metres of land would be reclaimed from the sea, to service the needs of larger fishing vessels and additional traffic at the harbour, Mr Fahey added.
The contract for the dredging work is due to be signed in June, while work on the deepwater quay and ferry berth is expected to begin next February.
The Minister said the investment was an integral part of the Border, Midlands and West operational programme of the National Development Plan.
