Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money expended by his Department and Bord Iascaigh Mhara to date on the development of applications for aquaculture licences for a series of large fin fish farms around the coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21490/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has not been involved in the development of applications for aquaculture licences for finfish farms.

At present, my Department is processing one application for a “deep sea” salmon farm that was submitted by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). BIM has submitted an application for an Aquaculture and a Foreshore Licence for the cultivation of Finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay.

BIM is an independent statutory body. The matters raised by the Deputy in relation to BIM are operational issues and are therefore matters for BIM itself. BIM’s application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is currently being considered fully in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act as amended.

It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on an application which is under active consideration as part of a statutory process.