Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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521. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the problem of delays for shellfish licences; if his attention has been drawn to the long waiting times involved; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that jobs and economic activity are being put on hold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17695/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The delay in processing shellfish applications has arisen primarily due to the location of aquaculture operations in Natura 2000 areas (i.e. areas protected under EU Birds / Habitats Directives).

The European Court of Justice declared in case C418/04 that, by failing to take all the measures necessary to comply with Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43 (Habitats Directive) in respect of authorisation of aquaculture programmes, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under that Directive.

In the negotiations to address the judgment a process was agreed with the European Commission which would lead to full compliance by Ireland with the relevant EU Directives. This process includes the following steps:

- a detailed data collection in 91 Bays/Estuaries

- detailed analysis of raw data collected

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

- carrying out Appropriate Assessments of each licence application/fishery plan against the detailed Conservation Objectives set, and

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

The carrying out of detailed surveys of marine habitats and species has been completed. Appropriate Assessments have been completed in respect of Castlemaine Harbour, Dundalk Bay, Roaringwater Bay, Lough Swilly, Donegal Bay, and Dungarvan Harbour and Appropriate Assessments are ongoing in other 'Natura' areas.

This process has begun to achieve meaningful results. In 2013, I made a total of 137 licence determinations, of which approximately 120 were in respect of sites in 'Natura' areas (i.e. Roaringwater Bay and Castlemaine). I expect to be in a position to make in excess of 200 determinations in 2014.

The Appropriate Assessment process represents a significant financial, administrative and scientific investment by the State. The issue of resources is kept under continuous review having regard to the importance my Department attaches to this issue.