Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects an application for an aquaculture licence to be processed and a decision communicated to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16307/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The application referred to is in respect of a site located within Ardgroom Harbour, Kenmare Bay which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site).

All applications in 'Natura' areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is engaged in a comprehensive programme to gather the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of 'Natura' areas. This process is ongoing and significant progress has been made. This comprehensive data collection programme, together with the setting of appropriate conservation objectives by the NPWS, will enable all new, renewal and review applications to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. This work represents a significant financial, administrative and scientific investment by the State in resolving this issue. The Appropriate Assessment of aquaculture applications is being dealt with on a bay-by-bay basis.

My Department continues to make every effort to expedite the determination of aquaculture licence applications having regard to the complexities of each case and the need to comply with all national and EU legislation.