Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 679: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for aquaculture licences that are awaiting decisions by his Department; the length of time it takes to process these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35261/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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At present there are 618 aquaculture licence applications awaiting determination.

The large number of licence applications awaiting determination largely arises because the majority of areas for which aquaculture licences are sought are located in Natura areas. All applications in 'Natura 2000 areas' are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Habitats/Birds Directives. An additional factor is that all aquaculture applications now undergo Environmental Impact pre-screening assessment which requires significant input from the Department's scientific and technical advisors.

My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, is engaged in a comprehensive programme to gather the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of 'Natura 2000' areas. This data collection programme is substantially complete. Analysis of the data, 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.

The timeframe for processing each particular application varies depending on location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites, potential visual impact etc. Other factors include consideration of any submissions or observations raised during the public consultation period.

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