Government is not looking for overseas supplies of roofing slate, Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy said this afternoon, addressing rumours in the aftermath of a high demand for the stone in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gonzalo.

“It is also wrong to say that the Department of Planning is holding up applications in any way,” Senator Fahy said.

“The Department of Planning and the Government as a whole are very sympathetic to those persons without a roof over their head as a result of the said storms. Our technical officers wasted no time in identifying potential quarry sites and spoke with those land owners who could potentially assist. This included site visits and assessments. It is important to remember that the quarries that I am making reference to are on private land, as such it is up to private land owners to decide whether they wish to quarry following approval from the Department of Planning.”

No one should start quarrying without Planning approval, he said.

“Plans must be submitted which must include a site plan to show where the proposed operations will occur, to understand the depth of the quarry and the distance from adjacent properties. Such applications are reviewed by technical officers who then make recommendations to the Development Applications Board with approval and with conditions attached. There is normally a two week advertising process where objections can be lodged. If objections are received the length of time to resolve applications can become substantial. Normally the process would take approximately five to six weeks. That is the normal process.

“Such time periods are obviously not appropriate in the circumstances we currently face. I have stated repeatedly however that for a process to be expedited, applications must still be made. So rather than follow the usual process and for the sake of absolute clarity the Board has established guidelines, with my approval, to waive the advertisement period for thirty days only for planning applications involving proposals for quarrying operations. This is effective tomorrow morning.”

Only one quarry, at Emily’s Bay in St David’s, has a valid permission set up. Planning has received three quarrying submissions, which they expect to have reviewed by noon tomorrow, involving:

• Rocky Heights Quarry at Lot C, Lolly’s Well Road, Smiths

• 126 Harrington Sound Road, Smiths

• 15 Farmers Lane, Warwick

Applications will be approved within two days rather than the usual six weeks, Sen Fahy said.

Approval will be given for three months, with an option to extend via a new application if there is a “demonstrated need” for slate.

Sen Fahy advised anyone with queries to contact Planning at 297-7756.