Background History to the 52-Acre Struggle
In July 1972, the Dublin Port and Docks Board prepared its long term plan for Dublin
Port. It published this plan in the form of Studies including
maps, which showed Dublin Bay infilled over an area of 2870
acres. The sea from Clontarf, Sandymount, and Merrion Strand had disappeared!!!
First Attempt
In may 1980, the Port Board
published a small Public notice of its application to reclaim 94 acres
of Inner Dublin Bay on the Tolka estuary. There was such a public
outcry that the board did not pursue the matter.
Second Attempt
In April 1988, the Board
published another small Public Notice that was applying to reclaim 52
acres at the location. James P.Maguire P.R.O of Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club, published a letter in the
evening Herald on March 28th, 1989, in which he stated: "the
Port Board is seeking to reclaim an area slightly greater than Fairview
right across the mouth of the Tolka Estuary. This would block the
only safe deep water access between Clontarf and the sea, and must have
a serious effect on silting in the inner bay...."
There were 4,000
objections. Marine Minister B.Daly rejected the application.
He told the Board to come up with a co-ordinated plan for the whole area
for the foreseeable future and that it must consult with Resident
Associations. The Port Company ignored Minister Daly's
conditions.
Third Attempt
In October 1999, the
Port Company publish another Public notice stating that it had applied
to reclaim the same 52 acres. It did not consult with any Resident
Association. Instead, it entered into a deal with Clontarf
Yacht and Boat Club, and secured its support for the infill proposal.
In May 2000, the Department of
the Marine decided that the environmental Impact Statement (E.I.S) was
"seriously deficient". The revised Draft E.I.S is now
ready.
In February 2000, Marine
Minister Fahey stated in the Dáil that "new statutory arrangements
are clearly needed to provide for the integrated management of the
coastal zone, including the greater Dublin Bay and adjoining land
area" However, he said "it would not be reasonable to defer
consideration of the Dublin Port Company's application until a new
legislative framework is in place". He also said " in
the short term we are anxious to allow Dublin Port to proceed with its
development". As of now it appears that Minister Fahey will
approve the Port Company's application even though his department has received
thousands of new objections to it.
