Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to be in touch with the various planning authorities with a view to facilitating early processing of planning applications associated with animal welfare requirements and without the imposition of punitive levies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14602/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Loose Sow Housing Directive came into force on 1 January 2013. In order to comply with the requirements of this Directive many pig farmers had to convert existing pig units or construct new builds.

In this context my Department made contact with Local Authorities during 2012 with a view to ascertaining the number of planning permission applications received from pig farmers in respect of such work. This contact was solely from a scheme monitoring standpoint given that my Department had introduced a Sow Housing Welfare Scheme in order to facilitate pig producer compliance.

The Deputy will be aware that planning matters are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.