Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the action she has taken in line with the recommendations of the seafood industry strategy (details supplied) to implement recommendation 6.2 dealing with aquaculture licensing; the number of licences issued by her since 1 January 2007; the number of applications for new licences, renewals or reviews currently waiting to be processed; when she will reduce the backlog of applications, renewals and reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27089/07]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Cawley report recommended that a review of the existing procedures and processes used to administer and implement the current licensing and regulatory regime for the aquaculture sector should take place with a view to strengthening current systems and procedures and delivering an improved service to customers. My Department has prepared a detailed strategic plan to give effect to this recommendation. This plan is undergoing urgent internal consultation with a view to eliminating the backlog within a defined timeframe and delivering enhanced customer service to the industry.

Responsibility for the Aquaculture Acts 1997 to 2006 and the associated functions transferred to my Department on 19 October 2007. Prior to that date, 12 aquaculture licences were issued by my predecessors, including three issued by the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board, from 1 January 2007. This figure does not refer to the assignments of licences from one operator to another which are also processed by the Department.

It is important however, that I place the number of new licences issued in context. The licensing procedure is lengthy and complex, involving a range of intermediate measures before a recommendation and decision can be made in any one case. The process has become considerably more complex in recent years due to increased activity and demands in the coastal zone and the knock-on need to take an ever greater account of: the potential impacts on safety and navigation; the ecological impacts on wild fisheries, natural habitats, flora and fauna; the suitability of the waters; the other beneficial uses and the likely effects on the economy; and the statutory status of the area.

The low number of licences issued this year to date provides a good indicator of the need to dramatically improve the process and procedures involved in aquaculture licensing. Records available in the Department indicate that 254 are being processed as new applications, licence renewals or licences undergoing review. As regards the substantial backlog, I am confident that the detailed measures under consideration by the Department will successfully address this issue on a sustainable basis.

I assure the Deputy that the difficulty with the backlog of licence applications is of huge importance to the Department. As Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, I am totally committed to the elimination of this backlog as a matter of urgency.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his answer, or rather the lack of one. I asked a specific question, namely, the number of licences issued since January 2007. The answer I got was 12 and three, or 15. I asked about the number of applications for new licences, renewals or reviews being processed and he said 254, when the figure is 260. When will the backlog be cleared? The Minister of State said it would be achieved as soon as possible.

At present, there are 20 companies in the Irish Salmon Growers' Association and their turnover amounts to €60 million. They produce 12,000 tonnes but it is not very long since they were producing 25,000 tonnes. The main reason for the decline is inaction regarding licences in the Minister of State's Department. On the Irish Trout Producers' Group and freshwater fisheries, the main issues of concern are licences, capital investment and research and development.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is developing bad habits. He should ask questions and his long dissertation should be discouraged.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister of State outline how he expects to spend the budget of €111 million given that it takes so long to process a licence? There are 260 to be processed by the Department, whose staff in west Cork — God bless them — are entirely new. I imagine it will be January 2009 before anything happens.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In the past few weeks, since responsibility for marine matters was transferred to what is now the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Minister and I met the IFA aquaculture groups and worked out a plan together. Obviously we had to have discussions with the stakeholders on how we would deal with the licensing backlog. The coastal zone management division in my Department has prepared a detailed strategic plan that takes into account the issues raised by the stakeholders, including the elimination of the applications backlog, the systematic monitoring and enforcement regime, the development of customer service delivery and the implementation of the EU directive on habitats and fish health. We expect to be in a position to roll out the new regime on 1 January and I am quietly confident that we will eliminate the backlog by the end of 2008.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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By 2008.