From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
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Submissions closed
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Consultation is being reviewed
ESB Wind Development Limited (ESB), a wholly owned subsidiary of ESB
ESB Wind Development Limited, Gateway, East Wall Road, Dublin 3. D03 A995
Description:
ESB Wind Development Limited have applied for a Licence to carry out site investigations relating to a possible wind farm on a site named "Sea Stacks Offshore Wind", situated off the coasts of Dublin and Wicklow.
This foreshore application relates to the Site Investigation works only. These activities are required to inform: the overall project feasibility; the conditions at site and along the cable route; the various assessments required to progress the project; and the development of the project.
Site Investigations proposed include:
Geophysical surveys
- Multibeam Echosounder (MBES)
- Side Scan Sonar (SSS)
- Sub-Bottom Profiling (SBP) / Ultra High Resolution Seismic (UHRS)
- Magnetometer Survey
Geotechnical surveys
- Boreholes
- Cone Penetration Testing (CPT)
- Vibro Core (VC) and Grab Sampling
- Down the Hole testing
- Trial Pits
Oceanographic & Metocean surveys
- Equipment Deployment & Recovery from a vessel
- Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to measure ocean currents
- Wave Buoys
- Floating Lidar Buoy to measure wind speed at height
Environmental/Ecological & Archaeological Surveys
- Benthic Sampling
- Static Acoustic monitoring
- Archaeological Surveys
Location:
A site area named "Sea Stacks Offshore Wind", situated off the Dublin and Wicklow coasts.
A public consultation was held between 23rd December 2021 and 30th January 2022, following which - in accordance with Regulation 42(8) of S.I. No. 477/2011 - European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 - the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage, in considering an application for a foreshore licence under the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended, and in particular whether or not the plan or project would have a significant impact on a European Site, has determined that an Appropriate Assessment is required. A copy of the Appropriate Assessment screening decision and the materials considered is available below.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for making a decision on the application and the Minister may either grant, approve or consent to the application with or without covenants, conditions or agreements, where applicable, or refuse the application.
The Minister will carry out an Appropriate Assessment and in doing so, shall have regard to the matters in Regulation 42 (12). The Minister will make a determination as to whether or not the proposed plan or project would adversely affect the integrity of a European site in accordance with Regulation 42(11) of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.
In this regard, in accordance with Regulation 42(13), public submissions are invited for the purposes of conducting the Appropriate Assessment in this case. Any person may make a submission or observation to the Minister concerning the proposed project and the Minister shall have regard to any submissions or observations received during the public consultation.
A copy of the application, map of the proposed project, the determination that an Appropriate Assessment is required in respect of the project, the Natura Impact Statement included with this application, and the other information and documentation relevant to the application, are available for inspection for 30 calendar days, between 11 July 2022 and 9 August 2022 , free of charge at:
Fingal County Council, Planning Department, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin. K67 X8Y2
Monday to Thursday: 09:00 to 17:00. Friday: 09:00 to 16:30
Dublin City Council, Planning Department, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, D08 RF3F
Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 16:30
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, Planning Department, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, A96 K6C9
Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 16:00
Wicklow County Council, Planning Department, County Buildings, Whitegates, Wicklow Town, A67 FW96
Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 15:30
Howth Garda Station, 8 Dunbo Hill, Howth, Co. Dublin, D13 YR70
Daily 07:00 to 21:00
Irishtown Garda Station, 57A Irishtown Road, Irishtown, Dublin 4, D04 YE33
Dun Laoghaire Garda Station, 34/35 Corrig Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, A96 N299
Bray Garda Station, Convent Avenue, Bray, Co. Wicklow, A98 E093.
Greystones Garda Station, 6, Marine Terrace, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, A63 N446. Daily 07:00 to 24:00.
Any person who wishes to make an objection to, or a representation in respect of, the grant of the Licence sought should do so in writing, giving reasons, between 11 July 2022 and 9 August 2022 (quoting ref: FS007134) to:
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Foreshore Section, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Newtown Road, Wexford, Co. Wexford; or email foreshoreORE@housing.gov.ie .
The closing date for submissions is 5:30pm on 9 August 2022.
All objections and representations received will be forwarded to the applicant for comment prior to any decision being made in the matter. Material upon which the Minster shall determine this application may be published in the Department’s website. In this regard the Department wishes to draw attention to its policy on defamatory material that may be contained in submissions it receives:
To access further information, please visit the Foreshore Notice page of this application at the following URL: https://www.gov.ie/en/foreshore-notice/9815d-esb-wind-development-limited-site-investigations-at-sea-stacks-offshore-wind-off-dublin-and-wicklow
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