Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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284. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 7 March 2012, the status of the issuing of a licence for mussel farming (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40450/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The application referred to by the Deputy is taken to be that of Sneem Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Ltd (which includes the individual identified by the Deputy). The relevant sites are located within Kenmare Bay which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site).

All applications in ‘Natura’ areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. An Appropriate Assessment has been completed in respect of Kenmare Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC). While the Appropriate Assessment is carried out on a bay-wide basis, each licence application within the bay must be assessed individually. Factors to be considered include location within the bay, species, scale and intensity of production, potential visual impact, etc.

In addition to Natura requirements, under EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directives all licence applications must undergo Environmental Impact Screening Assessment. This requires significant input from the Department’s scientific and technical advisors. All applications, in compliance with the requirements of the Aarhus Convention, are advertised in order to facilitate public consultation, and submissions or observations received must be considered as part of the licence determination process.

My Department is currently examining the general licensing issues that arise for consideration as a result of the Appropriate Assessment. This process is ongoing and there has been recent contact between the applicant and my officials regarding specific issues arising in respect of this application.

Every effort is being made to expedite the determination of this aquaculture licence application having regard to all the complexities involved.