Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will prioritise the provision of additional staffing to the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority to facilitate the use of additional sea-fisheries infrastructure that is currently not designated for use due to a lack of coverage by the authority; if the use of a pier (details supplied) in County Kerry could be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45920/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I received this request some time ago and consulted the SFPA in relation to the request for the designation of Renard Pier, Co. Kerry for landings of Monkfish and Hake. Please note that under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, the SFPA is responsible for operational issues concerning sea fisheries control.

The SFPA advised that as Renard Pier is capable of dealing with landings on a 24 hour basis and because of the high risk associated with national and foreign Hake and Monkfish landings it was not in a position to provide the resources necessary to provide the required level of cover for a designated port at this site. The SFPA noted that Renard pier is a relatively remote location and that the nearest Port office in Dingle is 180km round trip (a pprox 4 hrs return journey).

The SFPA has advised that following further discussions with a commercial party with an interest in the matter, it is giving active consideration to the possibility of supporting the designation of Renard Pier and a thorough analysis of the impacts of this designation is being carried out at present.