Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the criteria used for selecting applicants for the issuing of oyster licences in Clarenbridge, County Galway; the number of licences to be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37826/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In January of this year the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources issued an instruction to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to avoid the intensification of the Oyster Fishery until such time as Appropriate Assessments have been carried out in accordance with the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations, SI no 477 of 2011. Under those regulations, such an assessment is required to be carried out prior to the development of any Special Area of Conservation.

Consequently and on foot of further instructions, IFI has ensured that the maximum number of licences for 2011 does not exceed the number issued in 2010 or the average number of oyster fishing licences issued for the last five years, whichever is the greater.

I am advised that in light of these instructions, IFI issued 17 licences for the Galway Fishery District – Clarenbridge area in 2011 as follows:

a) To fishermen who held licences in 2010 and each of the four previous years.

b) To fishermen who held a licence in 2010 and three of the previous four years.

c) To fishermen who held a licence in four of the last five years.

d) To fishermen who held a licence in 2010 and two of the previous four years.

e) To fishermen who held a licence in 2010 and one of the previous four years.

f) All other applicants on a first come first served basis up to a maximum of 17 in total.