Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1001. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when it is proposed to commence the strategic environmental analysis for the fisheries operational programme under the new Common Fisheries Policy and the Rural Development Programme 2014-2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35453/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Preparatory work for the next rural development programme has already commenced. This includes the appointment of independent ex ante evaluators in January 2013, following a public tendering process, to undertake an Ex Ante Evaluation, a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Directive for the new rural development programme. Work on these three reports is ongoing at present.

In respect of the Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020 a request for tenders was issued for an independent external consultant to carry out tasks on this programme, which includes the SEA, with a closing date of 4 July 2013. The evaluation of the tenders received is currently underway and on completion of the evaluation process it is expected that the successful consultant will be in place by the end of August 2013.