Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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798. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has considered the strategic guidelines as recently presented by the EU Commission with respect to challenges facing the aquaculture sector; his views on these strategic guidelines; the impact of these guidelines in resolving the current delays by the Department in processing aquaculture licenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27024/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The document referred to by the Deputy is under active consideration by my Department at present.

In relation to the delays in processing aquaculture licences, in 2007 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared in Case C418/04 that by failing to take all measures necessary to comply with Article 6.3 of the EU Habitats Directive in respect of the authorisation of aquaculture programmes, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under that Directive. As most aquaculture activity takes place in 'Natura 2000' areas it is necessary to undertake an 'Appropriate Assessment' of the effects of aquaculture activity on these areas before any new licences can be issued or any existing licences can be renewed.

In the negotiations to address the ECJ judgement a process was agreed with the European Commission. This process includes the following steps:

- Data Collection in 91 Bays/Estuaries

- Detailed analysis of the raw data collected

- Setting of Conservation Objectives by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in respect of each site

- Carrying out Appropriate Assessments (AA) - by the Marine Institute - of aquaculture/fishery activities against the detailed Conservation Objectives set, and

- Determination of Licences/Fisheries on the basis of the Appropriate Assessment and other relevant factors

Conservation Objectives have now been set for a significant number of bays. The appropriate assessments are being carried out by the Marine Institute on behalf of the Department and to date four bays have been assessed - Castlemaine, Dundalk, Roaringwater and Lough Swilly. Licence determinations have been made in the case of Castlemaine.

My Department continues to make every effort to expedite the determination of aquaculture licence applications having regard to the legal, scientific and technical complexities involved.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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799. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current rate of growth of the Irish Aquaculture sector; the current value of Irish aquaculture production; the percentage of EU seafood consumption which comes from Irish aquaculture; the percentage of Irish seafood consumption which comes from Irish aquaculture; the supports in place by his Department to further develop the Irish aquaculture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27025/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) that there are no official statistics addressing some of the questions raised by the Deputy. BIM estimate that the value of aquaculture output rose by approximately 30% between 2003 and 2012 to €133 million. BIM also estimate that approximately 0.4% of EU seafood consumption may have been supplied by Irish aquaculture in 2007 (most recent year for which data is available), while the figure for the domestic market may be in the region of 8%. Ireland exports approximately 80% of its aquaculture output.

A suite of support programmes are made available through BIM and Údarás na Gaeltachta for the development of the aquaculture sector. Grants of up to 40%, co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund, are available for capital investment under the Commercial Aquaculture Development Scheme. Some €2.5 million is available for this Scheme in 2013. BIM provides ongoing technical, business and specialist advice to aquaculture operators to assist their development.