Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 183: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a number of fisheries licences (details supplied) in County Cork [33834/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The applications for the aquaculture licences referred to by the Deputy are in respect of sites located in Roaringwater 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 of gathering the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of 'Natura' areas. This data collection programme is substantially complete. This is followed by data analysis and the setting of appropriate Conservation Objectives by the NPWS. Once this process is complete all new, renewal and review aquaculture applications can be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

Two of the applications referred to by the Deputy (T05-569; T05-568) were submitted to my Department after the Appropriate Assessment data was collected for the bay and will, therefore, fall to be considered at a later juncture.

Addressing the issue of aquaculture licensing in Natura 2000 areas is a key priority for my Department and you can be assured that every effort is being made to expedite the determination of these aquaculture licence applications having regard to all the complexities involved.