Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

Last autumn I raised the matter of responsibilities between the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the issuing of aquaculture licences. Subsequent legislation apportioned that responsibility to the latter Department. However, there are 300 licences, either applications or renewals, pending for up to four years. One applicant in Kinvara, County Galway, has been waiting for five years. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is not dealing with these applications.

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