Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of appeals before the aquaculture licensing appeals board in the years 2006, 2007,2008,2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37912/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The following table outlines the number of appeals before the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board in the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010

The main reason for the number of Appeals before the Board falling to its current level is that it has not proven possible to make determinations on many aquaculture licence applications since 2008, following a European Court of Justice Judgement in relation to the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives in Natura 2000 areas, where most aquaculture occurs. A cross Departmental exercise between my Department and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the relevant Agencies of the two Departments has been underway to collect all the necessary environmental information in the relevant marine Natura 2000 areas to enable licence determinations to re-commence in compliance with the Natura 2000 Directives. When licence determinations commence in the Natura 2000 areas the number of appeals to the Appeals Board is expected to increase.