Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

When will the situation between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with regard to the foreshore licences amendment be resolved? Several applications are with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food but have been passed over to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Nobody will take responsibility for the initial studies in regard to foreshore licences, in particular, aquaculture licences. This is a matter of urgency. Many people are employed in this sector, particularly in the shellfish sector, as in the case of Kinvara on Galway Bay. They have been told for the past three years that there are no personnel to carry out the initial studies by which this legislation can be brought to fruition.

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