Written answers

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Aquaculture Licences

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to an application for a licence to produce salmon (details supplied) in County Kerry in 2005, if he will clarify certain matters (details further supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38831/12]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is in receipt of aquaculture licence applications from the operator referred to by the Deputy for a site in Kenmare Bay. The applications which are for the same site will be processed simultaneously.

The site in question is located within a ‘Natura 2000 area’. All applications in ‘Natura 2000 areas’ are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Habitats/Birds Directives. 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.

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.

The legal and factual position in relation to this case has been conveyed by my Department to the applicant.

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