Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason for the delay in granting a foreshore and aquaculture licence to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38980/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The individual in question originally applied for an Aquaculture Licence on 23 February 2006 and subsequently withdrew the application on 24 January 2008 due to the unsuitability of the site for the cultivation of shellfish. An application for an alternative site was received on 24 January 2008. My Department's advisors have some concerns about the suitability of this site and my Department has been in correspondence with the applicant on the matter. Every effort is being made by my Department to reach a determination in the case as soon as possible.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is examining alternative methods of cockle fishing in Dundalk Bay; if a method, which includes a vacuum process, is being considered suitable for cockle fishing in the bay; when a decision will be made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38983/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Officials from my Department together with officials from BIM and the Marine Institute met with representatives of the Dundalk Cockle fishermen recently to discuss the current situation in Dundalk Bay and the possible re-opening of the cockle fishery. It was agreed that BIM and the MI would continue to work closely with fishermen on a management plan for the fishery. I am not aware of specific proposals on new fishing methods under consideration but any such proposals should be forwarded to the MI and BIM for evaluation. In the context of the Dundalk Cockle Fishery being within a Natura 2000 site, the re-opening of the fishery would be subject to the agreement of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and DG Environment of the European Commission.