Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The issue is quite complicated as a decision has been made to divide the responsibility for foreshore between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. All aspects of fishery harbour development and anything attached to the fisheries and seafood sector will remain within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Everything else will be transferred to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which includes all of the commercial decisions which have to be made, alternative energies and other matters.

That Bill has not yet been completed but the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will continue to process all foreshore applications until such time as its powers have been transferred to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

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