Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Agriculture and Food

Aquaculture Licences

9:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 951: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the salmon aquaculture licence at an island (details supplied) in County Clare was revoked in December 2006 following a two year period when no aquaculture took place; if the licence was not revoked in 2006, the reason he did not; if the licensee has now applied for a renewal of the licence; if he will grant the renewal of the licence for salmon farming only on the condition that an environmental impact assessment and an assessment under the habitats directive will be carried out first; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Deenish Island is a marine special area of conservation and is in close proximity to a number of salmonid special areas of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1160/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The licence in question relates to an area located in Kenmare River, Co. Kerry. The licence was due for renewal from 15 February 2007. The licensee company had applied for renewal of the licence in question in February 2007 thus indicating its intention to utilise the site.

The renewal application was under consideration in the normal manner when, in early 2008, my Department became aware that the full shareholding of the licensee company was to be acquired by a third party. During the course of processing the approval of this acquisition my Department, in discussion with the relevant parties, was apprised of the new owner's production plans for the site. This included the revival of an application originally made in 2004 to expand the area of the site and the licensed production level. The Department has advised the company that it should submit a new application together with an Environmental Impact Statement in relation to this site. This application is awaited.

All new applications for marine salmon aquaculture licences are required to submit an Environmental Impact Statement in support of the application. My Department is aware that the aquaculture site at Deenish is within the Kenmare River Natura 2000 site. The Environmental Impact Statement will be required to fully assess the effects of the proposed aquaculture on the environment, including the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 site.

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