Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of the timetable for the Natura 2000 bays that are being assessed to identify the conservation objectives required for aquaculture; when the assessments on the remaining 84 bays will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38889/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The timeframe for the completion of the process of identifying Conservation Objectives and conducting Appropriate Assessments varies depending on location and key operational factors including weather conditions, the quality of data received from field operations, the need to carry out additional survey work in certain specific instances and seasonal factors in relation to bird migrations.

My Department is working very closely with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to complete the overall assessment process. Significant progress has already been made.

The overall process is being addressed on a bay-by-bay basis and all timelines for the completion of each stage of the work are kept under continuous review with a view to completion as soon as possible and are, therefore, subject to change.