WRITTEN QUESTION P-1660/00 by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Regeneration of Ballymun, Dublin, Ireland.
Date: 2000-05-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, Leinster, environmental impact, infringement of EU law, invitation to tender, urban renewal

C 72 E/94

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

(2001/C 72 E/112)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1660/00

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Regeneration of Ballymun, Dublin, Ireland

(18 May 2000)

The redevelopment of one of the most deprived areas of Dublin, Ballymun, involves the demolition of
hundreds of buildings and the relocation of 10 000 residents. The redevelopment covers an area of about
280 acres, and some of the projects are part-funded by the URBAN initiative. The regeneration scheme
involves the development of a business and technology park on 100 acres of land.

Since, pursuant to Council Directive 85/337/EEC (1) and subsequent amendments (97/11/EC) (2), any new
developments in existing urban areas covering over 2 hectares must be assessed through an EIA, does the
Commission take the view that the overall redevelopment of Ballymun should be assessed through an EIA?

Does it intend to bring legal proceedings against Ballymun Regeneration Ltd. for failing to tender and have
an EIA carried out of the whole development at Ballymun?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

In 1999, the Commission received several complaints concerning a claimed failure to submit the entire
redevelopment of Ballymun to environmental
impact assessment pursuant to Directive 85/337/EEC of
27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment,
as modified by Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997. The Commission made enquiries of the Irish
authorities in 1999 and has since received a response. The Irish authorities contend that the plan for the
overall redevelopment does not come within the scope of Directive 85/337/EEC, pointing out that the
redevelopment is being carried out by way of a series of separate projects, some but not all of which have
been made subject to environmental impact assessment pursuant to this Directive. The Commission has
referred the information in this response to complainants, and is currently considering the extensive
comments and observations received. The Commission expects to make a decision on the matter in the
coming months. Where legal action is decided following a complaint, it relates to the Member State and
not to a legal entity such as the company cited by the Honourable Member.

(2001/C 72 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1661/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Euro 2000 football tournament

(18 May 2000)

Can the Commission confirm whether it has been contacted by any competent authority involved in the
organisation of Euro 2000 expressing concern about the safety of the stadium in Charleroi for the match
between England and Germany on 17 June?

Not only have experts in stadium safety voiced grave reservations about the size and capability of the
stadium to cope with emergencies, but the Head of the Belgian Police Federation has also said that the
narrow streets around the stadium will severely hamper crowd control.